Description
Track 1 Interview with Richard Bolt talking of Richard Pearse, possibility of early flight, witness statements, verbal description of plane and innovations on plane design -- Track 2 Interview with George Bolt talking of his early flying, early aerial photography, Walsh Brothers, Flying School, at end of war imported two Boeings carried first official mail in New Zealand 1919, passengers around 1920, proposal to fly the Tasman 1924, Richard Pearse and the possibility of early flight, tracked down story of Pearse, had motorbike Pearse built plus written records on planes, growth of aviation in New Zealand -- Track 3 Interview with Ruth and Florence Pearse talking of brother's work and inventions, never saw him fly but neighbours saw him fly, brother Warne set the propeller going, unclear on dates, three planes in total, never had opportunity to train as an engineer, learned by reading -- Track 4 Interview with Joel Coll on Richard Pearse's early flight, landed/crashed into gorse fence, 31 march 1902, year later first controlled flight, made wind up model of airplane at school, third plane late 20s-early 30s with variable pitch propellers, never flew could not get air worthiness certificate -- Track 5 Interview with Robert Gibson stating that man should not fly on religious grounds, Ramsay and he saw the flight, ended up in gorse, took off over cliff turned up river landed in river, April 1903, described first plane and talked of third plane, a powered glide -- Track 6 interview with Malcolm Fraser saying that British history of aviation has Pearse as a footnote, engineer looked at Pearse's design, he and Geoff Rodliffe built replica of machine -- Track 7 Interview with Richard Williams speaking on behalf of the Royal Aeronautical Society who looked at the technical aspects of planes and the conclusion that while Pearse did achieve flight he did not achieve controlled flight, doubtful of dates and evidence he flew before Wright brothers, -- Track 8 Documentary reviewing evidence around Pearse investigations, researcher Graham Bell, eyewitness Robert Gibson (repeats some of earlier session with Gibson), first plane 1902, Geoff Rodliffe talking of Bolt's evidence, repeats some of earlier session, Gordon Ogilvie describes flight as hops and jumps not powered flight, 1903 as date on memorial, old people are not always reliable witnesses, Richard Pearse (nephew) uncle contributed to pioneer aviation, Tony Elworthy claims Pearse did not fly at all, no proof, based on technical aspects of Pearse's design, wants proper historical evidence, Jim Crombie 1903 is a reasonable date given the evidence at hand.
Physical description
1 cd (approximately 6 minutes, approximately 12 minutes, approximately 9 minutes, approximately 9 minutes, approximately 9 minutes, approximately 2 minutes, approximately 2 minutes, approximately 16 minutes) : sound
Credit line
Sound Archives et al. 31 Oct 2001. Miscellaneous audio recordings about Richard Pearse, 02-39. Walsh Memorial Library, The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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Miscellaneous audio recordings about Richard Pearse
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