Richard Pearce: The True Pioneer of Flight

The first powered flight was achieved not by the Wright brothers but by Richard Pearce, a New Zealand farmer. In March 1903, Pearce constructed his aircraft from local materials, including bamboo and tobacco cans, and successfully flew it in Temaru, New Zealand. While the Wright brothers have extensive documentation and photographs of their flight later that year, Pearce's lack of publicity and record-keeping meant his achievement went largely unrecognized. Despite this, his design influenced future aircraft development more than many are aware.