Brazil celebrates centenary of first public manned flight

Brazil on Monday celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first public manned flight of a self-powered heavier-than-air object, which was achieved by a Brazilian.

Alberto Santos flew his plane -- the 14-Bis -- in public on Oct. 23, 1906, in Bagatelle -- a field on the outskirts of Paris. He was photographed, filmed and had many witnesses. The flight of more than 25 meters won the Archdeacon prize for the world's first publicly observed powered aircraft flight.

The Brazilian central bank commemorated the occasion with a coin featuring Santos, known as the father of aviation in Brazil, while the nation's postal service issued a stamp in his honor.

Rio de Janeiro celebrated the event by showing an exact replica of the aircraft in a public park.

The Wright Brothers, who patented the first heavier-than-air flying machine, made their first flight in 1903, but refused to exhibit their aircraft in public.

Source: Xinhua