Kitty Hawk Flyer to the Smithsonian, loaning it instead to the Science Museum, London in 1928. When the Smithsonian recanted its claim in 1942, Orville agreed to have the Flyer returned to the United States. The airplane remained in protective storage in Britain during World War II and was not returned to the U.S. until 1948, when the agreement was signed by Orville Wright's executors following his death. Critics of the agreement contend that it is a conflict of interest that continues to interfere with the Smithsonian's willingness to research and recognize anyone who might have made successful powered flights before December 17, 1903. The controversy reignited in 2013 when Jane's All the World's Aircraft editorialized that Whitehead, not the Wright brothers, was first to make a successful airplane flight. A month later, however, Jane's stated that the editorial reflected the opinion of the editorialist and not Jane's. In response to resulting negative publicity about the agreement, National Air and Space Museum senior curator Tom Crouch issued a statement, which said: "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." See also Gustave Whitehead Early flight Timeline of aviation Aviation history List of years in aviation References Notes Bibliography Brinchman, Susan O'Dwyer. Gustave Whitehead: First in Flight. San Diego, CA: Apex Educational Media, 2015 O'Dwyer, Major William J. History by Contract. Leutershausen, Germany: Fritz Majer & Sohn, 1978. . Randolph, Stella. Lost Flights of Gustave Whitehead. New York: Places, Inc., 1937. Randolph, Stella. The Story of Gustave Whitehead, Before the Wrights Flew. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1966. External links Wright/Smithsonian Agreement pdf History of aviation Aviation books 1978 non-fiction books Wright brothers Smithsonian Institution