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''History by Contract'', published in 1978, is a book written by early aviation researchers Major William J. O'Dwyer, U.S. Air Force Reserve (ret.) and Stella Randolph, about aviation pioneer Gustave Whitehead. The book, containing primary source documents, focused on an agreement between Smithsonian and the estate of Orville Wright that stipulates recognition of the Wrights as first to fly in order to retain the Wright Flyer. ''History by Contract'' purports to offer evidence that the Smithsonian Institution deliberately ignored Whitehead's aeronautical work, due to upholding the Wright brothers as the first to achieve successful manned, powered, sustained and controlled flight, per their agreement. Writer Frank Delear stated in an article that "The book accused the national Air and Space Museum (NASM) of an apparent conspiracy of silence interspersed with behind-the-scenes demeaning of Whitehead's efforts. The net result, O'Dwyer and Randolph alleged, made Whitehead a virtual nonentity in aviation annals."〔Delear, Frank. (" Gustave Whitehead and the First-Flight Controversy." ) ''History Net,'' June 12, 2006. (originally published in ''Aviation History'', March 1996.) Retrieved: July, 2012.〕 ''History By Contract'' recapped the evidence and material available in two earlier books about Whitehead by Randolph, as well as adding statements and affidavits concerning alleged flights by Whitehead.〔History by Contract, O'Dwyer and Randolph (1978)〕 After what O'Dwyer described as secrecy and denials about the existence of a Smithsonian-Wright Agreement, O'Dwyer obtained a signed copy of the Smithsonian-Wright "Agreement" in 1976, with the help of then-Senator Lowell Weicker.〔History by Contract", O'Dwyer and Randolph (1978) p. 140-240〕 Fox News reported the matter on April 1, 2013.〔Smithsonian releases Wright brothers contract detailing 'first in flight' claims http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/04/01/contract-forcing-smithsonian-to-call-wright-bros-first-in-flight/〕 The Smithsonian said that the agreement was put in place not to hide Whitehead's aviation experiments but to prevent the re-occurrence of a mistaken emphasis in the 1910s by the Smithsonian on the experiments of Samuel Pierpont Langley, identifying the 1903 Langley Aerodrome as the "first airplane capable of flight" even though it had not actually flown.〔 The Smithsonian Institution issued a release,〔http://newsdesk.si.edu/sites/default/files/Wright-Contract.pdf〕 written by Senior Curator Tom Crouch, on the matter on March 15, 2013, which read, in part "The contract remains in force today, a healthy reminder of a less than exemplary moment in Smithsonian history. Over the years individuals who argue for other claimants to the honor of having made the first flight have claimed that the contract is secret . It is not. I have sent many copies upon request. Critics have also charged that no Smithsonian staff member would ever be willing to entertain such a possibility and risk losing a national treasure. I can only hope that, should persuasive evidence for a prior flight be presented, my colleagues and I would have the courage and the honesty to admit the new evidence and risk the loss of the Wright Flyer." ==The title's meaning== The "contract" of the book title refers to an agreement between the estate of Orville Wright (died 30 January 1948) and the United States, represented by the Smithsonian Institution. The agreement, dated 23 November 1948, stipulated:〔( The Smithsonian Contract ) Wright-Brothers.org. Retrieved April 15, 2013〕 * The Estate of Orville Wright agrees to sell the 1903 Wright Flyer to the United States (represented by the Smithsonian) for $1. * In return, the United States guarantees the aircraft to be displayed prominently in the nation’s capital and to be identified as the first heavier-than-air flying machine in which men made a controlled and powered flight. * The airplane is to be valued at $1 for tax purposes. * Should the United States not prominently display the airplane, display it without the agreed-upon identification, or identify another airplane as being capable of controlled and powered manned flight before December 17, 1903, the ownership of the airplane reverts to the Estate. * Additionally, if the airplane is valued at more than $1 and the Estate assessed for taxes, the United States will pay those taxes. If it does not, the title reverts. * If the United States forfeits its title to the airplane for any of these reasons, it has five years to comply with the agreement to regain title. * The required labeling: There shall at all times be prominently displayed with said Aeroplane a label in the following form and language: 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「History by Contract」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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