"Pearce" Flying Machine

[mrloudly]

Was recently put onto these guys building a replica in NZ

Local rumour is that it flew before the Wright Bros. Let's see if
it will fly! Interesting to follow and put regular up-dates on Facebook.

http://www.willitflymovie.com/home.html

Amazing what you can do in a shed!

[Simpo Two]

A replica was built in 2003 and is in the Museum of Transport & Technology in Auckland, according to my book...

[mrloudly]

"MOTAT" I was there in January and there was nothing there resembling it now? Did have a new Aviation hall with a Lancaster and a couple of flying boats ;-)

[Simpo Two]

Well the book ('Wild About Flying!') was published in 2003 in NZ so I guess it's somewhere else now.

Essentially it seems that Pearce did some short powered hops in March 1903 but had no photographer, film crew or professional witnesses to prove it. The Wright brothers had (and did longer hops under better control - this was about sustained controllable powered flight), and the rest is history.


http://www.amazon.com/Wild-About-Flying-Dreamers-D...

[kiwiwayne]

Hello to you all, I guess one of the great things about the internet age is you can see who is looking at your web site. Thanks so much for looking and takeing an interest in The Pearse Reproduction Project by Ivan Mudrovich here in New Zealand.
This story is quite remarkable in many ways and Ivans dedication and motivation and sheer will to try and make this aircraft leave the ground is really inspiring beyond belief. I hope you all enjoy following the project with interest and the question is as we get very close is WILL IT FLY ? this we hope to find out in a few weeks,so stay with us on willitflymovie.com and WILL IT FLY ? facebook wall for all photos and comments
Cheers Wayne Johnson, Auckland New Zealand.

Edited by kiwiwayne on Tuesday 29th May 22:22

[uncinqsix]

Simpo Two said:

Well the book ('Wild About Flying!') was published in 2003 in NZ so I guess it's somewhere else now.

Essentially it seems that Pearce did some short powered hops in March 1903 but had no photographer, film crew or professional witnesses to prove it. The Wright brothers had (and did longer hops under better control - this was about sustained controllable powered flight), and the rest is history.


http://www.amazon.com/Wild-About-Flying-Dreamers-D...

The latest on this is that it looks like Pearce flew well after the Wrights, in 1909: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6799761/Pearse-fle...

Still, it's a pretty cool achievement for a bloke in a shed.

[Simpo Two]

Blimey, I've been to within 4 miles of Waitohi - not much there is there!

Definitely a need for a little museum and some signage off the main road I think.

[kiwiwayne]

This is the fascinating thing about the whole Pearse story and you are correct there have been all sorts of theories of dates, when he did what and how, and also other previous attempts to build an aircraft that would fly.
What Ivan has done, is follow the 1906 patent aircraft description, along with other information that was at hand and he has built this Pearse reproduction with modern technology and machinery with modern engineering safety practices in mind.
At the end of the day we don’t want parts to fly off or to hurt anyone, safety in paramount at all costs.
Ivan will be very honest and has put his hand up all through this build and said, that if it flies it flies and if it doesn’t, I gave it my best shot.
The thing I love the most about this story of Ivan and you are all correct, it all happened in back yard shed, which is a quite remarkable feat in anyone’s language.

I agree the Pearse Memorial is in need of better sign posting, and when you think of this guy Pearse out in the back blocks of rural New Zealand even having a go at this thing back then called flying and then building a plane and getting it air born, that it even more remarkable in the era and the time.

[mebe]

Not sure it matters who did what when to be honest, with the limited communications and exchange of technical information Pearse must have been as much "alone" as anyone else trying to get a machine into the air in those days, including the Wright brothers.

If he got something into the air it was a fantastic achievement and if Ivan recreates it I think that's also a great achievement.

I'd guess nobody will ever put the "who did what when" argument to bed but in the end anything flying in that timeframe was hugely cutting edge.

Good luck to you!

[kiwiwayne]

Absolutely agree with you on that 100% , and thats what this story is all about, the endeavours by Ivan to have a crack at building this aircraft and what its taken in his journey to acheieve this to date. Its very inspirational to watch this and he is to be admired with what he has done. Thanks for your kind words as alot of people will have totally have missed that point.

Edited by kiwiwayne on Wednesday 30th May 20:19

Edited by kiwiwayne on Wednesday 30th May 21:34

[mrloudly]

http://thumbsnap.com/v/zCcGCbEF.jpg

Just spotted this on the engineering thread, anyone know if this replica attempted flight?

[Vieste]

Well spotted i looked at the bike never noticed what was behind it.