Talk:Félix du Temple de la Croix

A fact from Félix du Temple de la Croix appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 21 March 2006. The text of the entry was as follows:

Did you know... that the French inventor Félix du Temple accomplished in 1874 a short flight with his steam-powered aircraft Monoplane, often considered the first manned powered flight in history?

A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2006/March.

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"Sometimes", not "often"

Let's be real and Neutral Point of View. It should be written "sometimes credited", not "often". For example if you do a Google search of "first flight", you will get a very low percentage of mentions of Félix. [1] 136,000 hits versus [2] 531 hits. Hu 04:01, 21 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Here are some of quotes regarding this claim, although I agree it is a little known fact, hence the small number of hits PHG 04:13, 21 March 2006 (UTC):[reply]

"The first takeoff of a powered, fixed-wing aircraft with a man aboard took place in 1874 at Brest, France. The steam-engine-powered plane, designed by a French naval officer, Félix du Temple, rose a few feet when it was launched down a hill." The New York Times, 2003
"In 1874, French naval officer Félix Du Temple successfully launched a bat-like plane with a steam engine. Rising a few feet off the ground, it was the first launch of a manned, powered fixed-wing aircraft." in Wright College
"Felix Du Temple built a steam-powered monoplane that managed to rise a few feet off the ground-the first powered fixed-wing aircraft that carried a passenger, albeit down a slope." US National Park Service
"First powered flight to make even a brief hop", according to the U.S. Centennial of flight commission
"It was more of a "hop" than a real flight, but some historians give du Temple credit for the first powered flight." in The pioneers, an anthology and The National Business Aviation Association
"It is said the craft managed to make a brief hop a few feet off the ground after being rolled down an inclined slope, gliding a short distance, and landing safely. If this account is true, Félix du Temple did succeed in launching the first manned, powered, fixed-wing, heavier-than-air flight, but the propulsion system was too weak to sustain the flight and the control system was ineffective." in Aerospaceweb.org

Translation of quote needed

A translation of the quote at the bottom of the page is needed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Chile (talk • contribs) 04:02, 21 March 2006 UTC

Pilotted or not is not clear

The article does not make it clear if this "first flight" was pilotted or not. Hu 04:08, 21 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

"In 1874, the two brothers built the "Monoplane", a large plane made of aluminium in Brest, France, with a wingspan of 13 meters and a weight of only 80 kilograms (without the driver)."

Seems obvious enough I reckon, even though that should have read "pilot" not "driver". CW 06:26, 21 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

An earlier but unpiloted flight

1848: John Stringfellow made and flew a model airplane that is said to be the first power-driven machine to fly. It flew 120 feet at Chard, England. Just stirring up trouble... The Real Walrus 12:36, 21 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Right for the model powered plane (of course unpiloted). Corrected.PHG 13:44, 21 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

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