1890, took place in the grounds of the chateau d'Amainvilliers,
near Bretz; two fellow-enthusiasts named Espinosa and Vallier
stated that a flight was actually made; no statement in the
history of aeronautics has been subject of so much question, and
the claim remains unproved.

It was in September of 1891 that Ader, by permission of the
Minister of War, moved the 'Eole' to the military establishment
at Satory for the purpose of further trial. By this time,
whether he had flown or not, his nineteen years of work in
connection with the problems attendant on mechanical flight had
attracted so much attention that henceforth his work was subject
to the approval of the military authorities, for already it was
recognised that an efficient flying machine would confer an
inestimable advantage on the power that possessed it in the
event of war. At Satory the 'Eole' was alleged to have made a
flight of 109 yards, or, according to another account, 164 feet,
as stated above, in the trial in which the machine wrecked
itself through colliding with some carts which had been placed
near the track--the root cause of this accident, however, was
given as deficient equilibrium.

Whatever the sceptics may say, there is reason for belief in the
accomplishment of actual flight by Ader with his first machine
in the fact that, after the inevitable official delay of some
months, the French War Ministry granted funds for further
experiment. Ader named his second machine, which he began to
build in May, 1892, the 'Avion,' and--an honour which he well
deserve--that name remains in French aeronautics as descriptive
of the power-driven aeroplane up to this day.