WANTED - Info on NZ aviation pioneer
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WANTED - Info on NZ aviation pioneer
I've had an enquiry regarding a NZ aviator and inventer named H.J. Pither. I was wondering if anyone has any contacts who may know something about this person and, specifically, if anyone is aware of what became of his aircraft.
DATA
H. J. Pither
Married 1897 in Melbourne
Went to NZ
Built an a/c along the lines of a Bleuriot, possibly called a "Peerless"
using his own engine (Peerless V4) - with steel fusilage
Claimed to be 1st to fly in NZ
Came to Melbourne Nov 1910
Champion cyclist
Declared bankrupt in June 1911
Moved to Horsham 1921
Died 1934.
Brian
DATA
H. J. Pither
Married 1897 in Melbourne
Went to NZ
Built an a/c along the lines of a Bleuriot, possibly called a "Peerless"
using his own engine (Peerless V4) - with steel fusilage
Claimed to be 1st to fly in NZ
Came to Melbourne Nov 1910
Champion cyclist
Declared bankrupt in June 1911
Moved to Horsham 1921
Died 1934.
Brian
Nothing comes up on Google. Are you suggesting this guy flew before New Zealander Richard Pearse, who flew some eight months before the Wright brothers?
You could try the The Museum of Transport and Technology of New Zealand (Inc.).
Here's a link for Pearce at that Museum: http://chrisbrady.itgo.com/pearse/pearse.htm
Here's another interesting link: http://www.billzilla.org/pearce.htm
"Billzilla" posts on PPRuNe and may be able to assist you.
You could try the The Museum of Transport and Technology of New Zealand (Inc.).
Here's a link for Pearce at that Museum: http://chrisbrady.itgo.com/pearse/pearse.htm
Here's another interesting link: http://www.billzilla.org/pearce.htm
"Billzilla" posts on PPRuNe and may be able to assist you.
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His aircraft is described as being similar to a Bleriot so I'd imagine its claimed as the first flight - post Wright Bros maybe?
Pearse isn't the only pre-Wright aviator - do a google search on Gustave Whitehead
I've been informed his name was 'Herbert' - a google search found a few references and contacts which I will pass on. Hopefully someone is NZ can provide more info :-)
Pearse isn't the only pre-Wright aviator - do a google search on Gustave Whitehead
I've been informed his name was 'Herbert' - a google search found a few references and contacts which I will pass on. Hopefully someone is NZ can provide more info :-)
iwillflyajet Who knows with total accuracy who was first to achieve powered flight, but there appears to be substantial evidence that it wasn't the Wright brothers.
Go check this site:
http://www.deepsky.com/~firstflight/
"Two years, four months and three days before the successful flights of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, a birdlike monoplane took to the air at early dawn on August 14, 1901, near Bridgeport, Connecticut, carrying its inventor and builder, Gustave Whitehead, a distance of approximately a half mile. So reported the Bridgeport Herald, the New York Herald and the Boston Transcript.
Later on the same day, Whitehead and his power driven plane are reported to have made three other flights...
Did Whitehead really beat the Wright brothers? Did other pre-Wright inventors fly first? Many refuse to even entertain the notion that the Wrights were not the first and the best - but there is growing evidence that in fact, that may not be the case at all."
Go check this site:
http://www.deepsky.com/~firstflight/
"Two years, four months and three days before the successful flights of the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, a birdlike monoplane took to the air at early dawn on August 14, 1901, near Bridgeport, Connecticut, carrying its inventor and builder, Gustave Whitehead, a distance of approximately a half mile. So reported the Bridgeport Herald, the New York Herald and the Boston Transcript.
Later on the same day, Whitehead and his power driven plane are reported to have made three other flights...
Did Whitehead really beat the Wright brothers? Did other pre-Wright inventors fly first? Many refuse to even entertain the notion that the Wrights were not the first and the best - but there is growing evidence that in fact, that may not be the case at all."
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More stuff on Pearse/Whitehead here
So why are the Wright Bros still considered the "Fathers of Flight"
So why are the Wright Bros still considered the "Fathers of Flight"
Firstly, there are no surviving pictures of Pearse or Whitehead's aircraft in flight. A picture of Pearse's aircraft stuck in a hedge after a rough landing was claimed to have existed, but to have been lost in a flood. Neither gentlemen sought the lime light, preferring to just do it.
In 1988 a well-researched article in Air Enthusiast described the pioneering achievements of Gustave Whitehead. It revealed that the agreement entered into between the executors of Orville Wright's estate and the Smithsonian Institute for the display of the original Wright Flyer included the following paragraph,
"Neither the Smithsonian Institution or its successors, nor any museum or other agency, bureau or facilities administered for the United States of America by the Smithsonian Institution or its successors shall publish or permit to be displayed a statement or label in connection with or in respect of any aircraft model or design of earlier date than the Wright Aeroplane of 1903, claiming in effect that such aircraft was capable of carrying a man under its own power in controlled flight."
Everything points to Whitehead being the first to perform powered, manned flight. It seems however, that he sought to just do it, rather than be recognised for it. He was a poor immigrant, restricted financially with a real passion.
Pearse, from what was considered a remote part of the world in his day, should be commended for what was his tremendous achievement. He was a man on a mission: a solo mission, who also shared a great passion for his quest of manned powered flight.
In 1988 a well-researched article in Air Enthusiast described the pioneering achievements of Gustave Whitehead. It revealed that the agreement entered into between the executors of Orville Wright's estate and the Smithsonian Institute for the display of the original Wright Flyer included the following paragraph,
"Neither the Smithsonian Institution or its successors, nor any museum or other agency, bureau or facilities administered for the United States of America by the Smithsonian Institution or its successors shall publish or permit to be displayed a statement or label in connection with or in respect of any aircraft model or design of earlier date than the Wright Aeroplane of 1903, claiming in effect that such aircraft was capable of carrying a man under its own power in controlled flight."
Everything points to Whitehead being the first to perform powered, manned flight. It seems however, that he sought to just do it, rather than be recognised for it. He was a poor immigrant, restricted financially with a real passion.
Pearse, from what was considered a remote part of the world in his day, should be commended for what was his tremendous achievement. He was a man on a mission: a solo mission, who also shared a great passion for his quest of manned powered flight.
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I tried the search function on Pprune but there was no user name of H. J. Pither 
On a more helpfull note however, there may be something in the National Archives down in Wellington. I havnt been there myself but its where alot of people go to reseach such things. I would imagine this would be your best bet. I dont have thier contact details but I believe that you will be required to attend in person to sift through all the info on record.
All the best?
On a more helpfull note however, there may be something in the National Archives down in Wellington. I havnt been there myself but its where alot of people go to reseach such things. I would imagine this would be your best bet. I dont have thier contact details but I believe that you will be required to attend in person to sift through all the info on record.
All the best?
flyby_kiwi: "I tried the search function on Pprune but there was no user name of H. J. Pither"
according to your post Mr Pither died in 1934. PPRuNe commenced in 1999. Danny is good - but I don't think he's good enough to have a PPRuNe computer terminal where ever Mr Pither may now be!
I think you may mean a Google search?
ugly. I can't find a marriage record in Victoria in 1897 +/- 5 years, or a death record in 1934 +/- 5 years. Any idea what the initials "H J" stood for?
according to your post Mr Pither died in 1934. PPRuNe commenced in 1999. Danny is good - but I don't think he's good enough to have a PPRuNe computer terminal where ever Mr Pither may now be!
I think you may mean a Google search?
ugly. I can't find a marriage record in Victoria in 1897 +/- 5 years, or a death record in 1934 +/- 5 years. Any idea what the initials "H J" stood for?
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ugly. I can't find a marriage record in Victoria in 1897 +/- 5 years, or a death record in 1934 +/- 5 years. Any idea what the initials "H J" stood for?
Ugly. The only Herbert Pither I found is Herbert William Pither christened 13 Sep 1874 in Hawley, Hampshire, UK, parents William and Rosanna. All the ones for OZ - 9 of them are all from the one family parents James Pither and Mary Ann Biggs.
No record of his marriage or death.
No record of his marriage or death.
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I reckon if you do a little research into the official "first flight" in NZ you'll find it was between Riverton & NZNV by a bloke who's name eludes me... (Crawford perhaps?) Southland Museum in NZNV has a heap of info on the flights available. Believe it may have been a Caudron or a Bleriot
Like many others I too believe Richard Pearse was 1st... and better! Elevators & ailerons not wing-warping and a propeller of selectable pitch! Truly advanced work for an infant industry!
Go Kiwi!!!
Like many others I too believe Richard Pearse was 1st... and better! Elevators & ailerons not wing-warping and a propeller of selectable pitch! Truly advanced work for an infant industry!
Go Kiwi!!!
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I think the terms are something like: Pearse was the first for powered flight but the Wright Bros were first for controlled (if you can call it that) powered flight.
But like KiwiBlue stated, Pearse's aircraft resembles todays machines far more closely. Just a bit ahead of his time.
But like KiwiBlue stated, Pearse's aircraft resembles todays machines far more closely. Just a bit ahead of his time.
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But try and find an American source that will even acknowledge the accomplishments of Pearse, Whitehead etc.
What was uncontrolled about Pearse? The fact he couldn't clear a line of trees and crashed into it? The Wright Bros first flight wasn't even a flight, just 12 sec in ground effect
And they needed a catapult launch to get into the air. Pearse's aircraft took off under its own power.
A few years ago Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings director and aviation enthustiast) made an April Fools Day doco where he claimed to have footage of Pearse's flight. I've never seen it - has anyone else
What was uncontrolled about Pearse? The fact he couldn't clear a line of trees and crashed into it? The Wright Bros first flight wasn't even a flight, just 12 sec in ground effect
And they needed a catapult launch to get into the air. Pearse's aircraft took off under its own power.A few years ago Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings director and aviation enthustiast) made an April Fools Day doco where he claimed to have footage of Pearse's flight. I've never seen it - has anyone else
