Smithsonian Institution Curator Says 'You Can't Legislate History'

The Connecticut Senate has passed a bill that displaces the Wright Brothers as the first to fly a heavier-than-air powered airplane. House Bill 6671 instructs the Governor of Connecticut to "proclaim a date certain in each year as Powered Flight Day to honor the first powered flight by [the Wright brothers] Gustave Whitehead and to commemorate the Connecticut aviation and aerospace industry.”

Fox News reports that, according to Republican state Sen. Mike McLachlan, the Wright Brothers would still retain their place in aviation history, "they just weren't first."

The controversy stems from information described as "photographic proof" offered by aviation historian John Brown that shows Gustave Whitehead flew his No. 21 dubbed "The Condor" for 1.5 miles at an altitude of about 50 feet on August 14, 1901. The flight reportedly took place in the very early morning hours over the dark streets of Bridgeport, CT.

But the curators at the Smithsonian say that the claims don't hold up to scrutiny. Tom Crouch, senior curator of aeronautics for the Smithsonian, told Fox News that "you don't legislate history. People make up their minds based, I hope, on some thought given to the evidence." He said the evidence offered by Brown "falls apart" on close examination. Crouch said he remains convinced that the Wrights were first and Whitehead "in all probability never left the ground."

The Smithsonian does have a contract with the estate of Orville Wright that stipulates that they can display an early Wright Flyer on the condition that they do not ever change the narrative about who was first to fly.

Connecticut Governor Dannel Mallow is expected to sign the bill into law next week.

FMI: www.governor.ct.gov, www.si.edu