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RICHARD
WILLIAM PEARSE 1877 - 1953 Aviation Pioneer |
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RICHARD
WILLIAM PEARSE 1877 - 1953 Aviation Pioneer |
Richard Pearse was one of the very first men to fly in a power driven aeroplane, lifting into the sky on that sunny afternoon, a little over hundred years ago, when only a few school boys were watching. More than half a century would elapse before the exploits of this retiring man would become known to the world. |
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"Richard
Pearse and His Flying Machines": |
| "Richard
Pearse" The latest 4th edition of Geoff Rodliffe's book reprinted for the centennial of power driven flight in 2003. It chronicles the achievements of this modest genius, including extensive technical details of his aeroplanes, eyewitness accounts of his flights, and an evaluation of his claim to fame as the first man to fly in a power driven aeroplane. (Softback with 32 pages - 30x20cm) [2003 # ISBN-10: 0473096862 # ISBN-13: 978-0473096861]. See below for the Author (NZ) or Thornburypump (UK) |
| "Oh, For the Wings
of a Moth" by Helen Moore & Geoffrey Rodliffe Written from Geoffrey's notes, archives, and recollections by Helene Moore, this is an historical novel, woven around the life of Richard Pearse. The book transports the reader back through time to experience the frustrations, the achievements and the indiscretions of this extraordinary inventor. The story paints an accurate canvas of the remote farming village in New Zealand where Richard Pearse lived at the beginning of the 20th century. It was successfully turned into the widely acclaimed play: "The Pain and the Passion" which premiered on in Auckland on 12 May 2000. (Paperback - 160 pages) [1999 # ISBN-10: 0473057727 # ISBN-13: 978-0473057725] See below for the Author (NZ) or Thornburypump (UK) |
| "Flight Over
Waitohi" by Geoffrey Rodliffe. This second book was written for younger generations to read. It tells the story of Pearse's life, his aeroplanes and his other inventions in a simple, easy to follow manner. It has proved popular with educators and many schools have acquired it as a useful tool for historical and English studies. (Private printing - 32 illustrated pages) [1997 # ISBN 047305048X] See below for the Author (NZ) or Thornburypump (UK) |
"Wings Over Waitohi" |
"Richard Pearse - Pioneer
Aviator" |
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Additional infomation about Richard Pearse can be found at:
http://chrisbrady.itgo.com/pearse/pearse.htm
Updated: 12/09/2013 17:59
Geoffrey Rodliffe's interest in aviation dated from his school
days before World War II. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1935 and in due course
qualified as a ground engineer. Leaving the RAF after the war, he maintained his
association with aircraft, working for Miles Aircraft at Woodley, Berkshire, then
servicing aircraft for an Australia firm in Perth, and later returning to the U.K. to join
the De Havilland experimental flight and test departments.