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Richard William Pearse (3 December 1877 – 29 July 1953) was a New Zealand farmer and inventor who performed pioneering aviation experiments. Witnesses interviewed many years afterward describe observing Pearse flying and landing a powered heavier-than-air machine on 31 March 1903, nine months before the Wright brothers flew.
Learn about Richard Pearse, a New Zealand inventor who built and flew a monoplane in 1903 or 1904. Find out about his patented bicycle, his engine design and his eyewitness testimony.
Dec 8, 2000 · Learn about Richard Pearse, a self-taught New Zealand farmer who built and flew a monoplane in 1903, possibly before the Wright Brothers. Discover his childhood dream, his inventions, his reclusive lifestyle and his legacy.
Pearse’s Utility Plane will be prominently displayed in Te Puawananga, our new science and technology centre opening this year. In the centre you’ll be able to see the aircraft and learn more about its inventor, Richard Pearse, along with other examples of Kiwi science and technology innovation.
Jun 12, 2024 · Richard Pearse was a South Canterbury inventor, engineer and farmer. He is famous for being one of the first people on earth to leave the ground in a powered aircraft. His life and work have inspired books (including a novel), poetry, stamps, documentaries, and three stage plays.
May 29, 2019 · A contemporary of the Wright brothers, Richard Pearse's innovations in aviation were ahead of their time, but also almost lost to history. He lived in New Zealand and deserves to be...
Learn about Pearse's life, inventions and controversial claim of being the first to fly in a powered aircraft. He patented his monoplane in 1906 and his convertiplane in 1949, but died in obscurity in 1953.
