Lula claims that Santos Dumont had his story stolen by the USA

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) stated this Monday (13.Jul.2026) that the Brazilian Alberto Santos Dumont had his historical importance in the invention of the aeroplaneouba by the United States and said that it will seek to regain international recognition for the inventor. According to Lula, the topic will be discussed with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron (Renaissance, center), during a visit to the country in October.

“In fact, they stole this primacy from us, because they created two brothers in the United States who invented the airplane, when, in fact, the only instrument heavier than air that took flight during the time of the Eiffel Tower was the airplane made by Santos Dumont”, said Lula at the Institute of Aeronautics and Space, in São José dos Campos (SP), during the presentation ceremony of the 1st gas turbine developed to generate electrical energy from ethanol.

Santos Dumont is considered in Brazil to be the inventor of the plane for having flown with the 14-Bis in 1906, in Paris, taking off by his own means. The Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville, flew earlier, in 1903, but used a rail and catapult to take off. The historical dispute revolves around which of these feats should be considered the 1st flight.

Lula said he intends to recreate the flight made by Santos Dumont in Paris as a way of reinforcing the Brazilian’s international recognition for the invention of the plane.

“We are going to recover this historic value and I will talk to President Macron so that, in October this year, we can try to lift our plane again”, said Lula.

The president stated that preserving this episode is important for the country’s history and related the topic to national technological development.

“Because here’s the thing: if we lose history, we lose the reason for many things. So I’m very proud to know that today Brazil becomes the sixth country in the world to produce a turbine”, said the president.

Watch the event (1h2min56s):

GAS TURBINE

The technology presented, called UGEE1000BR (Electricity Generating Unit), was developed by IAE, linked to DCTA (Department of Aerospace Science and Technology), and uses hydrated ethanol as fuel. The turbine converts the energy released by combustion into mechanical movement and, subsequently, into electricity. Still in the demonstration phase, the project seeks to validate the technology before eventual production on a commercial scale.

The event was attended by vice-president Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), the minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveirafrom the Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, Guilherme Boulos (Psol), the president of BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development), Aloizio Mercadante, and the pre-candidate for the Senate, Marina Silva (Rede-SP).

Diogo Campiteli/Poder360

The UGEE1000BR (Electricity Generating Unit), the 1st gas turbine developed to create electrical energy from ethanol