The Wright brothers were not the first in flight, historians say. The commonly accepted account of flight may not be quite Wright.

Instead, a German immigrant, Gustave Whitehead, may have flown in Connecticut two years before the historic "first flight" by Wilbur and Orville Wright in South Carolina.

Connecticut lawmakers have passed a law writing the Wright Brothers out of history. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has signed a bill ending the feud that has been circling like a plane for over a century.

The debate is between the Wrights and Bridgeport, Connecticut resident Gustave Whitehead, who may have first flown in 1901. Whitehead's flight took place two years, four months and three days before the Wright Brothers swooped over Kitty Hawk, N.C., in December 1903.

Recently discovered photos and eyewitness accounts re-launched the debate. The new bill is a measure stating Whitehead was first, and thus, Connecticut holds the rightful claim to aviation fame - not North Carolina.

Historian John Brown discovered long-lost photos that set the record straight, but aviation historians have long argued that Whitehead was first.

Still, the "correction" doesn't fly with some. After all, North Carolina's license plates say "First in Flight"

"After peer review earlier this year confirmed the finding that Gustave Whitehead was the first person to fly a powered airplane (long before the Wright brothers), society at large has now begun commemorating this achievement," Brown said.

"Since Whitehead was a Connecticut resident, it was only appropriate that the Connecticut Assembly and Governor led the way," he added.

He called the recognition of the Wright brothers a "backroom deal" by the Smithsonian.

North Carolina, however, says the story doesn't fly. Kevin Cherry, deputy secretary and director of archives and history for the state's Department of Cultural Resources, said "We're certainly disappointed that Connecticut is trying to rewrite history and this has been researched over and over many times and it's been concluded each time that there's nothing factual to indicate that Whitehead flew."

"That's the vote of the Connecticut legislature and history is about interpretation and question marks and discussion, Cherry said. He told press he was "open to new evidence and new stories," but says he hadn't seen the photographs and he doesn't plan to investigate because "I don't think that the work of Orville and Wilbur can be diminished."

Brown, however, arguest differently. "...for 40 years (1903-1942), the Smithsonian said, 'It was not the Wrights. There's no proof they were first.' Then, after a backroom deal, for 70 years (1942-2013), the Smithsonian then said, 'The Wrights were first. There's convincing proof", he wrote.

Meanwhile, in Germany, Nuremberg residents are suggesting the airport be renamed after their "aviation pioneer". It's leading the vote in a bid to rename the airport.