While the Wright brothers are widely credited with inventing the airplane, in Brazil, Alberto Santos-Dumont holds that honor. Brazilians argue that Santos-Dumont's 14-bis, unlike the Wright Flyer, achieved sustained, controlled flight without the assistance of launch rails or catapults, making it the first true airplane. This national pride is reflected in official records, educational materials, and public monuments, solidifying Santos-Dumont's legacy as the aviation pioneer in Brazil.
The article, "The Wright brothers invented the airplane, right? Not if you're in Brazil," published by the Washington Post, delves into the complex and contested history of flight, specifically challenging the widely held belief that Wilbur and Orville Wright are the undisputed inventors of the airplane. While acknowledging the Wright brothers' significant contributions and their achievement of the first successful sustained, controlled, powered heavier-than-air flight, the article highlights a fervent nationalistic pride in Brazil that attributes the invention to Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian aviation pioneer.
This divergent perspective, deeply ingrained in Brazilian culture and education, is not merely a matter of differing opinions, but a product of specific historical interpretations and national narratives. The article elaborates on how Brazilians emphasize Santos-Dumont's creation of the 14-bis, a fixed-wing aircraft that achieved a public, witnessed flight in Paris in 1906, as the true benchmark for powered flight. They argue that unlike the Wright brothers' earlier flights, which utilized launching rails and catapults, Santos-Dumont's 14-bis took off and landed under its own power, thus representing a more significant advancement. This interpretation, widely accepted and propagated within Brazil, leads to Santos-Dumont being celebrated as a national hero and the legitimate inventor of the airplane.
Furthermore, the article explores the nuances of defining "invention" in the context of aviation's early development. It acknowledges the incremental progress made by numerous individuals across the globe, each contributing to the eventual realization of powered flight. By examining the criteria used to determine what constitutes "invention," the piece underscores the complexities of assigning credit and highlights the subjective nature of historical narratives. The Wright brothers' focus on controlled and sustained flight, as opposed to merely achieving liftoff, forms a crucial component of their claim. However, the article suggests that the differing perspectives on the use of launching aids contribute significantly to the contrasting viewpoints held by Americans and Brazilians.
In conclusion, the article presents a nuanced perspective on the invention of the airplane, moving beyond a simple dichotomy of right and wrong. It acknowledges the Wright brothers' significant accomplishments while simultaneously illustrating how national narratives, particularly within Brazil, can shape perceptions of historical events and contribute to alternative interpretations of invention, leading to the celebration of Santos-Dumont as the true father of flight. This difference of opinion, the article argues, reveals not just a disagreement about historical facts, but also the influence of national identity and pride on the construction and preservation of historical memory.
Summary of Comments ( 345 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43442588
Hacker News users discuss the cultural and historical context around the invention of the airplane, acknowledging Brazil's strong belief that Alberto Santos-Dumont is the rightful inventor. Several commenters point out that the criteria for "invention" are debatable, with some emphasizing controlled, sustained flight (favoring the Wright brothers) while others prioritize public demonstrations and reproducibility (favoring Santos-Dumont). The complexities of patent law and differing standards of evidence also enter the discussion. Some users mention Santos-Dumont's open-source approach to his designs as a contributing factor to his popularity, contrasting it with the Wright brothers' more secretive approach. The general sentiment reflects an understanding of Brazil's perspective, even if not everyone agrees with it, and highlights how national narratives shape historical interpretations.
The Hacker News post, titled "The Wright brothers invented the airplane, right? Not if you're in Brazil," which links to a Washington Post article about the same topic, has generated a significant number of comments discussing the controversy surrounding the invention of the airplane.
Several commenters point out that while Santos-Dumont achieved significant feats in heavier-than-air flight, particularly his public demonstrations in Europe, the Wright brothers were the first to achieve controlled, sustained flight with a heavier-than-air powered aircraft. They highlight the importance of the Wright brothers' three-axis control system, which allowed for maneuverability and stability, a crucial element lacking in Santos-Dumont's early designs, which were essentially dirigibles with wings attached.
Some comments delve into the nuances of the debate, acknowledging Santos-Dumont's contributions while maintaining that the Wright brothers deserve the primary credit. They point to Santos-Dumont's later acknowledgment of the Wright brothers' priority. One commenter even quotes Santos-Dumont as saying, "They are the fathers of the aeroplane, as I am the father of the dirigible." These commenters highlight the importance of differentiating between controlled and uncontrolled flight, arguing that while others may have briefly gotten airborne, the Wrights were the first to truly master the principles of flight.
Another line of discussion revolves around the nationalistic undertones of the debate. Some commenters suggest that Brazil's claim for Santos-Dumont is rooted in national pride and a desire to celebrate a homegrown hero. They argue that this nationalistic sentiment sometimes overshadows the objective historical record. Conversely, others argue that the narrative around the Wright brothers has also been influenced by American exceptionalism.
A few comments discuss the role of publicity and documentation in shaping public perception of the invention. The Wright brothers initially flew in relative secrecy, concerned about patent protection, while Santos-Dumont conducted his flights very publicly. This difference in approach, some suggest, contributed to Santos-Dumont's greater fame in Europe, especially in the early years of aviation.
Finally, some commenters offer more technical insights, comparing and contrasting the designs of the Wright Flyer and Santos-Dumont's 14-bis, highlighting the technical advancements made by the Wright brothers in terms of wing warping and propeller design. They also debate the significance of taking off from a rail, as the Wright Flyer did, versus taking off from a flat field. The discussion generally concludes that the Wright brothers did build and successfully fly a controlled and steerable heavier-than-air powered aircraft first, but it's a complex subject with room for nationalistic interpretations and technical nuances.