Richard Pearse

Richard Pearse was an early New Zealand aviation pioneer born in 1877. He is recognized forbuilding and flying some of the world's first powered aircraft independently around 1903, around the same time as the Wright Brothers. Pearse's aircraft were innovative and experimental, with some evidence suggesting he achieved short, uncontrolled hops before others. Despite limited resources and recognition during his lifetime, his work contributed to early developments in aviation. Pearse’s efforts highlight the global, concurrent nature of innovation in flight and underscore the importance of perseverance and ingenuity.