Richard william pearse biography definition

Richard Pearse (1877-1953)

Richard Pearse's first patented invention, dating from 1902, was an ingenious new style of bicycle, bamboo-framed with a vertical-drive pedal action, rod-and-rack gearing system, back-pedal rim-brakes and integral tyre pumps.

But flying, not cycling, was his dream. Through Scientific American Pearse kept in touch with experimentation overseas. There is evidence he was working on ideas for powered flight from 1899 and had built his first two-cylinder petrol engine by 1902.

He then constructed, using bamboo, tubular steel, wire and canvas, a low aspect ratio monoplane.

Richard william pearse biography definition us history

Of prophetic design,it closely resembled a modern microlight aircraft in appearance. After considerable taxiing on his farm paddocks Pearse made his first public flight attempt down Main Waitohi Road adjacent to his farm.

After a short distance aloft, perhaps 50 yards, he crashed on top of his own gorse fence. No details were recorded, by Pea