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Song Parodies -> "Before the Wright Brothers Flew"

Original Song Title:

"I Put a Spell on You"

 (MP3)
Original Performer:

Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Parody Song Title:

"Before the Wright Brothers Flew"

Parody Written by:

Robert D. Arndt Jr.

The Lyrics

Gustav Weisskopf (1874-1927) was born in Germany but emigrated to the US and anglicized his name to Gustave Whitehead in 1895. His interest in aviation began in Germany, but Whitehead's most significant experimentations commenced in America. By 1898, he was living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he had built his first steam-powered airplane. A single witness reported that Whitehead not only flew this aircraft in 1899, but that the trip covered some 2,500 ft (765 m) and that the witness was aboard as a passenger. Aside from this witness account, however, there is no evidence to support the rather fanciful story, and it has been largely discounted. Nonetheless, Whitehead's most credible claims were to lie ahead. Whitehead moved his family to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he took a job as a mechanic around the turn of the century. There, he constructed his most famous aircraft, the No. 21. This vehicle was a rather elegant looking monoplane with the pilot seated in a fuselage shaped much like the hull of a boat. Power was supplied by a four cylinder gasoline engine turning two propellers, and the entire craft weighed about 800 lb (360 kg). According to Whitehead supporters, his greatest success came on 14 August 1901 when Gustave is said to have made as many as four test flights of the No. 21. The first of these, supposedly conducted in the pre-dawn darkness, is claimed to have traveled over 2,500 ft (765 m). Another test is claimed to have covered 1.5 miles (2.4 km) and reached altitudes up to 200 ft (60 m). Supporters go on to say that two more flights were made aboard a new aircraft, the No. 22, on 17 January 1902--one traveling 2 miles (3.2 km) and the other 7 miles (11.3 km). Unfortunately, the evidence to back up any of these rather extraordinary claims is sketchy, at best.
Before the Wright Brothers flew
An earlier time…

Is there any evidence that will prove?
Was Weisskopf lyin’???
GW No.21 flyin’???

From Brideport, Connecticut
Rumors spreadin’ around
Mechanic building craft
Hull of a boat with wings, 800 lbs

Before the Wright Brothers flew
An earlier time…
Twin-prop flyin’

1901 it flew
1901 it flew
1901 it flew
August 14th, 1.5 miles
Reported in print
Many believed him
Skeptics don’t, even now

Controversy
Before the Wright Brothers flew
An earlier time…
(two replicas flew beautifully)
http://www.weisskopf.de/fotoalbum.html

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Voting Results

 
Pacing: 5.0
How Funny: 5.0
Overall Rating: 5.0

Total Votes: 4

Voting Breakdown

The following represent how many people voted for each category.

    Pacing How Funny Overall Rating
 1   0
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 0
 
 2   0
 0
 0
 
 3   0
 0
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 4   0
 0
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 5   4
 4
 4
 

User Comments

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Wild Child JIN - June 06, 2011 - Report this comment
I didn't know there were any flying tests before the Wright Brothers, but I guess it would make sense, they had to be inspired somewhere too! :-) This parody will certainly fly with three 5's on it's wings! :-)
Rob Arndt - June 06, 2011 - Report this comment
Prior to the Wright brothers flight goes all the way back to ancient times, well at least the Chinese effirt with man-carrying kites and possibly a glider and then in Europe with the Montgolfier brothers with balloons, then Otto Lilienthal with gliders, and then Zeppelin with the airships by 1900 and then Weisskopf's a/c in 1901 or the Wrights in 1903. A few others previosuly too like Langely and Ader, etc...The first jet was Romanian, by Henri Coanda, who built a thermal-jet type biplane by 1910... but it was destroyed in an accident. IIRC, there was talk of a German thermal type biplane also under investigation when WW1 ended...
Hammerhead - June 07, 2011 - Report this comment
Wow!!! More surprises that deserve 555!!!

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