The First Claimed Powered Flight – Gustave Whitehead, 14 August 1901 | The British Newspaper Archive Blog

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The First Claimed Powered Flight – Gustave Whitehead, 14 August 1901

On 14 August 1901, it was claimed that the Bavarian-born Gustave Whitehead (aka Gustav Albin Weisskopf) made the first powered flight, thereby predating the historic flight made by the Wright Brothers by two years.

The question regarding the accuracy of Whitehead’s flights in 1901 and 1902 is an ongoing controversy among historians, which is unlikely ever to be resolved.

To celebrate Whitehead’s pioneering work in the world of aviation, here are two newspaper stories (published in August 1901) that report on the powered flights that Whitehead allegedly made in 1901.

Tamworth Herald – Saturday 24 August 1901

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000484/19010824/075/0006

Portsmouth Evening News – Wednesday 21 August 1901

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19010821/031/0003

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