Who is credited with the first airplane flight in Europe?

Alberto Santos-Dumont is credited with the first airplane flight in Europe, playing a pivotal role in aviation history. In 1906, in Paris, he successfully flew his 14-bis aircraft, which achieved a distance of approximately 60 meters at a height of about 2 to 3 meters. This flight is particularly notable not just for its achievement but also because it was carried out in front of witnesses and involved an aircraft that took off, flew, and landed under its own power, which is critical to defining an airplane flight.

Santos-Dumont was a prominent aviator and inventor in the early 20th century, and his contributions to aviation went beyond this flight, including advancements in dirigibles and other aircraft technologies. His efforts in promoting aviation in Europe, especially in France, helped inspire public interest and further developments in the field. The historical context of this achievement distinguishes it from the pioneering efforts of the Wright brothers in America, which occurred a few years earlier.