Actually, at a 1905 dinner in Washington DC Santos-Dumont got to talk with a man who had been at the Wright's 1903 flight. So there is a chance that his sudden

Actually, at a 1905 dinner in Washington DC Santos-Dumont got to talk with a man who had been at the Wright's 1903 flight. So there is a chance that his sudden change from the 14 (lighter than air) to the 14-bis (airplane) might have been influenced by this talk. Note that Santos-Dumont did get the prize for the first flight that required that the flight happen in Paris. Just like today there is a prize for the best solar power car in Australia and if I build one and drive it around in Africa I won't get that prize.