Weisskopf was nicknamed 'the flyer' as a boy for his passionate interest in birds and flight.
 
Orphaned at 13 years old and 'press ganged' at the age of 14 by the crew of a sailing ship, Weisskopf emigrated to America in 1894. He then changed his surname to 'Whitehead' and embarked on a series of pioneering achievements, most famously the 'Number 21'.
 
For years, Weisskopf's followers have fought for the acknowledgement of the German-born American inventor as one of the pioneers of aviation. Although there is no photographic evidence, Weisskopf supposedly accomplished the first powered flight in history, when he flew one of his own inventions - a bird-like monoplane called the 'Number 21' - near Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA, on 14 August 1901. The plane was constructed from bamboo poles, braced with steel wires and silk - giving the appearance of a bird in flight.
 
This was over two and a half years before the Wright Brothers succeeded with their historically confirmed first flight and the 'first-to-fly' debate remains a controversial one. No photographic record of the flight exists, only past testimonies remain. However, a full-scale replica of the aircraft has flown with success, demonstrating Weisskopf's perception actually worked!.