Of course we can imagine that the Wrights were not the first
You just have to apply the Wright "recipe" to another guy anywhere in the world.
The question is, why where the Wright successfull ?
To me its because
- they chose a step-by-step approach, working on the long-term
- they had a flourishing bussiness - their bicycle commerce- to withstand their experiments.
- in consequence they did not need governement funding
(Ader, Langley and Chanute had public support, and failed)
Problem with public funds = obligation of result at a precise date. That sunk Ader in 1897...
- the Wright did everything alone, including their engine (!)
At least they obtained the exact engine they wanted for their machine!
- they were very, very rationale
(not like Hiram Maxim for example. Dream and ambition doesn't help)
Maybe if we invent a guy having all the elements above, he could compete with the Wrights ?
The upper limit would be somewhere around 1885-1890 : you need viable internal combustion engines to achieve flight. In short, car engines. Can't see steam aircrafts working...
The first cars with such engines (Benz and others) apeared in the 1880's. These engines needed some years to mature.
AH challenge : have a Wright brother earlier, and not in the USA...
