Ok..there are several comments in the web that claim it was catapulted on a rail.

Gustave himself claimed his plane flew. He had studied Ottos gliders in Berlin.

Dear aviators…ladies and gentlemen !

As the 2019 is nearing…are we going to see a flying specimen of a Vickers Vimy in 2019 ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFedpGeMJ04

Yes John Green Sir George Cayley designed a plane that may have flown. We might also believe Gustave Whitehead made a flight in 1901 with engine power. All we know for sure that Felix du Temple de la Croix plane with steam power flew in 1874, but that was down hill.Wright’s catapulted landing gearless plane flew straight and level.

Yet Lilienthal and Wrights recorded every step with great detail.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A…le_de_la_Croix

snibble,

The Apollo 11 flight was first real step in conquering the distant planets ( all Apollos except 1 and 13 certainly were also as refined and flawless ). We haven’t flown around the world with solar power…non stop…someone will do it one day. Yes and Geminis all displayed great control too but lacked the range.

Space flight needs a working light ION drive manned system….I bet the ION drive is the future. So far just probes have had those…and ISS.