That's true but they're not famous for adding the engine or the control system, the general public remembers them for inventing the airplane. Or "flying machine" as they called it back then. But that wasn't invented by them, even the name seems like a translation from German "Flugapparat". Nevertheless the US granted them a patent for the glider. Of course that was before internet and globalization and people didn't get sued for IP violations from across the ocean.

Sounds like you're admitting that you lied for dramatic effect, and are justifying it by the Wrights being famous for something other than their actual, more useful contribution. Please stick to the facts. I'm sure you'd agree these discussions don't need any more BS.

No, I do not agree with your insinuation and accusation. They did improve on the concept, I already mentioned that. Improving on and inventing something are two completely different things though. Lilienthal himself did not come up with the idea either, there were others dreaming of flying machines before him and some were even build, he's just the first person to have flown in one. That's why I said "with most great inventions, there usually isn't a single person who came up with them."

The Wright Brothers' biggest contribution to flight was in terms of aerodynamics and steering the glider. Adding the engine was arguably the easiest part, but you first had to come up with a glider design giving you enough lift. Even today most people wouldn't be able to do that on their own. Saying the Wright Brothers didn't invent the plane does not take away from those contributions. It simply corrects misinformation and puts them back into a long line of scientists and inventors who all worked on creating what we today know as airplanes.

You didn't say they didn't invent the airplane, though, you said their plane was only a glider. Which is false. So why did you say that?

Ok, seeing your point now. I was absolutely not trying to say their motor plane was just a glider. Reading it again that sentence was badly worded. 100% with you there!

The comment was strictly about their first plane, their supposed invention. When they flew their first glider, Lilienthal was already dead. His first flights had been 20 years before those of the Wrights! And yes, the Wrights obviously started with the glider just like him (which I was talking about) and only added the motor in later versions. It's known that they studied documents from Lilienthal and others and designed their flying machine based on that. So the idea that they invented it is ridiculous, that's all I was trying to communicate. Adding the engine does not mean they invented the whole thing, but sadly the general public has no idea about this and thinks they were the sole inventors.

They were still extremely skilled engineers, not to take away from that. They were pioneers in their own right. Their glider was superior to Lilienthal's, but that's partly because it was based on the superior biplane design by Chanute and Herring.