From Philip Starr
I am sure your claim that the first uncontrolled steam-powered flight was achieved by Simon Langley in 1896 (4 February, p 3) will be challenged by others, but it was surely predated by John Stringfellow of Chard, UK, who flew a steam-powered aircraft in a disused lace mill in 1848.
The editor writes:
• There are numerous claims, but was the first by a substantially-sized aircraft of that type.
Chard, Somerset
