HERE'S WHAT I THINK
Richard Pearse successfully completed the first powered air flight, nearly nine months before the Wright Brothers
On March 31, 1903, Richard Pearce, a New Zealand born and self taught engineer, successfully completed the world's first powered flight in a homemade aeroplane on the South Island of New Zealand. He made a powered takeoff and flew 350 metres with poor control, crashing into a hedge at the end of the field. Pearse has no photographic evidence, but there are written eyewitness accounts. On May 11, 1903 Pearse successfully had another powered take off along a dry riverbed. He turned left then right (to fly over the riverbed) . After flying nearly a kilometre, he lost power when his engine overheated, resulting in a crash landing into the riverbed.
Half way around the world Orville and Wilbur Wright made their famous powered flight from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903. They flew for 12 seconds thus claiming to be the first men to pilot a heavier-than-air machine that took off on its own power, remained under control, and sustained flight.
Photo: Wright brother's first flight
Contents at a Glance
- YOUR TURN - Who Should Get the Credit for First Flight?
- Proof that Richard Pearse WAS the first man to fly!
- Learn More About Richard Pearse on Wikipedia
YOUR TURN - Who Should Get the Credit for First Flight?
Can we help to re-write history, or am I just a monkeybrain. Please jump in with your thoughts.
So, what do you think? Simply click into the "I say" box and the two options will appear there. Select a side for the duel and type your response. This section is open for everyone, you do not have to be a Squidoo member to take a side. However, if you want to join click here and you can join squidoo now.
Who Should Get the Credit for First Flight?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byRichard Pearse should get the credit
OhMe says:
I have never heard of Richard Pearse but after reading this, I think his accomplishments ought to be written about. I don't think his should take the same claim as the Wright Bros since they did land but I do think he needs to be acknowledged.
Posted December 27, 2009
Richard says:
The Wrights only managed to get 12 feet off the ground - not high enough to crash!
Posted December 10, 2009
Bob says:
Pearse was in the air first, there's no denying it. Eye witnesses placed him in the air months before the Wrights. I guess he needed a better PR man.
Posted October 28, 2009
No way, Monkeybrain! it's the Wright brothers
Ellen says:
The Wrights landed, Pearse crashed.
Posted October 29, 2009
Proof that Richard Pearse WAS the first man to fly!
If you agree, add links (proof!) that help make this case.
I took this photo at MOTAT of the wall of witness statements confirming Richard Pearse's first flight.
More proof in these articles. Do you kno of an article that's not here. If you are a Squidoo member, you can add it to the list. If not you can click here to join squidoo now or Email Me Now with the items you want to add.
Richard Pearse
First Man to 'Fly' a Mechanically Powered Aeroplan more...0 points
Richard William Pearse - The First Man To Fly
On or about 31 March 1903 Richard William Pearse o more...0 points
The Official Website of Richard Pearse, Aviator and Inventor
The official web site of Richard Pearse pioneer av more...0 points
Richard Pearse : New Zealand Pioneer Aviator (1877 - 1953)
This site celebrates the life and work of Richard more...0 points
Richard Pearse - inventor and aviator | NZHistory.net.nz, New Zealand history online
There is evidence he was working on ideas for powe more...0 points
Learn More About Richard Pearse on Wikipedia
Richard William Pearse (3 December 1877 ? 29 July 1953),son of Cornish immigrants from St Columb near Newquay, a New Zealand farmer and inventor who performed pioneering experiments in aviation.
Pearse supposedly successfully flew and landed a powered heavier-than-air machine on 31 March 1903Rodliffe, C. Geoffrey. Richard Pearse: Pioneer Aviator. Auckland, New Zealand: Museum of Transport and Technology. Inc., 1983. ISBN 0-473-09686-2., some nine months before the Wright brothers flew their craft. The documentary evidence to support such a claim remains open to interpretation, however, and he does not appear to have developed his aircraft to the same degree as the Wright brothers did, in respect of sustained, controlled flight. Pearse himself was not a publicity-seeker and also occasionally made contradictory statements which for many years led some of the few who knew of his feats to offer 1904 as the date of his first truly-controlled flight. The lack of any chance of industrial development, such as spurred the Wrights to develop their machine, seems to have suppressed any recognition of Pearse's achievements.
Want to Learn More?
Wings over Waitohi: the story of Richard Pearse
Amazon Price: $14.00 (as of 12/31/2009)
One of the reviews summed it best: "Essential reading for those interested in early aviation." The is the story of New Zealand aviator Richard Pearse. It documents his achievements as an aviation pioneer who left the ground before the Wrights.
Had you heard of Richard Pearse before today?
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Photo: replica of Richard Pearse first aeroplane, photo taken at MOTAT, Auckland, NZ
Still Believe the Wright brother's flew first?
Disagree? Put your money where your mouth is and show us why.
Know of an article supporting the Wright Brothers that's not here. Squidoo member can add it to the list. If you're not a member, you can click here to join squidoo now or Email Me Now with the items you want to add.
The Wright Brothers - The First Flight of an Airplane
Orville and Wilbur Wright - the Wright Brothers - more...0 points
The Wright Brothers - First Flight, 1903
Orville Wright describes the first powered flight.0 points
Wright Brothers: How we made the first flight
by Orville Wright0 points
Innovation: Wright Brothers Art Print
24 in. x 18 in.
Buy at AllPosters.com
Learn More About the Wright Brothers
From lensmaster SemperFidelis
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The Wright Brothers
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American brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright invented the first practical airplane. Creative tinkerers from a young age, they built a printing press and worked on bicycles before turning their attention toward flight. Beginning with kites and the...
Wright Brothers Poster
18 in. x 24 in.
Buy at AllPosters.com
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If you have an opinion on the topic, please add it to the duel above. Any other comments, or just a "hello" are welcome here. The guestbook is open for everyone.
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- OhMe OhMe Dec 27, 2009 @ 1:34 pm
- Wow, this was so interesting. Now, I will be pondering this all day and wonder what else I knew that was not true. Very well presented. Blessed by a Squid Angel.
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- Sylvestermouse Sylvestermouse Oct 25, 2009 @ 11:43 am
- This is a very interesting lens! I don't doubt one bit that you know what you are talking about.
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- rms rms Oct 25, 2009 @ 8:31 am
- Interesting topic!
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- kab kab Oct 25, 2009 @ 1:12 am
- I think you might be right!
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- mysticmama mysticmama Oct 24, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
- Very interesting subject!
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Lensmaster Pukeko has been a member since May 17 2009, has rated 864 lenses, favorited 755, and has created 116 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Best of Make Me Laugh - Top 10 Funniest Zazzle Designs of 2009". See all my lenses
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