Dave Homewood
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 7, 2011 19:43:41 GMT 12
In the latest TV Guide there's an interview with Adam Savage and Jamie Heinaman from the awesome TV series Mythbusters. They say that the fans have been asking them to test Richard Pearse's 1903 aicraft design. Adam confirmed that the team is really keen to test it out and they are researching his construction methods to get the design exactly right.
I really hope it goes ahead, it will be awesome to see what they come up with.
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Post by baz62 on Apr 7, 2011 19:54:40 GMT 12
Yayyy Mythbusters!! Test that plane!
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Post by haughtney1 on Apr 7, 2011 20:36:04 GMT 12
What an interesting notion, I'm really interested to se what they power it with, I didnt think the design was in that much conjecture?
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Dave Homewood
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 7, 2011 20:44:18 GMT 12
The last replica of it to fly was powered by a horse! ;D
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Bruce
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Post by Bruce on Apr 7, 2011 20:52:52 GMT 12
Actually there is already a Pearse replica at Kelly Field at Mercer, Built by Geoffrey Rodliffe and based on many years of research (some of which is however debatable). It is built using similar techniques and materials to the original. It has been towed down the taxiway and taxi runs carried out, but the verdict is it is horrendously unstable with a C of G far to much rearward and is quite frankly dangerous. No need to reinvent the wheel - its not going to prove anything anyway - except that Pearse was very lucky to end up in a gorse hedge !
I strongly admire Richard Pearse as the first NZ aircraft homebuilder, but with the design in the patent application, there is no way his flight could be termed controlled or sustained.
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The Red Baron
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Post by The Red Baron on Apr 7, 2011 21:44:51 GMT 12
And of course the Wright Bros never flew there pile of bamboo was catapulted into the air by a bath tub full of cement.
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Post by shorty on Apr 7, 2011 22:15:40 GMT 12
They'll be lucky to make it work with that prop!
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The Red Baron
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Post by The Red Baron on Apr 7, 2011 22:19:10 GMT 12
My understanding is the US government spent a lot of money early on to 'disprove' all other claims of flight preceding the Wright Bros.
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Post by shorty on Apr 7, 2011 22:21:37 GMT 12
They'll be lucky to produce enough oomph from the prop as he drew it!
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Dave Homewood
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 7, 2011 22:32:26 GMT 12
I doubt they will prove anything but it will be a fun and interesting take on the story, and also will provide some excellent world-wide coverage for a kiwi hero who's little known outside of NZ, if the show is made.
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Post by errolmartyn on Apr 7, 2011 22:38:30 GMT 12
In the latest TV Guide there's an interview with Adam Savage and Jamie Heinaman from the awesome TV series Mythbusters. They say that the fans have been asking them to test Richard Pearse's 1903 aicraft design. Adam confirmed that the team is really keen to test it out and they are researching his construction methods to get the design exactly right. I really hope it goes ahead, it will be awesome to see what they come up with. A waste of time really as, contrary to the imaginative rubbish promoted by Mr Rodliffe, et al over the years, Richard Pearse never built a 1903 aircraft. As at 31 Dec 1903 he had in fact not got as far as even manufacturing the first part of his first machine (and which first hopped off the ground in late 1909). Errol |
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Post by Bruce on Apr 7, 2011 23:08:17 GMT 12
And of course the Wright Bros never flew there pile of bamboo was catapulted into the air by a bath tub full of cement. The wrights used a Launching rail for their Dec 1903 flights at Kitty Hawk, not a catapult. although it was slightly downhill, it didn't provide any impetus to the flight. with the consistent winds at Kitty Hawk, they didn't need a catapault, but Back home at Dayton they did. The Flyer was built from Spruce and birch covered in calico- no Bamboo involved either! There were of course other "first to fly" candidates such as Langley and Ader, but by most accepted standards of Sustained, controlled, powered flight (and in fact a proper scientific approach) the Wrights are undisputed. |
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Post by corsair67 on Apr 8, 2011 0:45:47 GMT 12
While it would be nice to think that one of my fellow Mainlanders was the first to fly a heavier-than-air machine, I think we can safely say after all this time it is all just fantasy.
Pearse's 1903 aircraft is the turn of the 20th century's version of the turn of the 21st century's Martin Jetpack! ;D
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Post by flyernzl on Apr 8, 2011 6:59:04 GMT 12
A waste of time really as, contrary to the imaginative rubbish promoted by Mr Rodliffe, et al over the years, Richard Pearse never built a 1903 aircraft. As at 31 Dec 1903 he had in fact not got as far as even manufacturing the first part of his first machine (and which first hopped off the ground in late 1909). Errol Keep taking the angrypills there Errol. |
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Post by errolmartyn on Apr 8, 2011 8:52:09 GMT 12
Keep taking the angrypills there Errol. No anger involved, just fact as I shall demonstrate conclusively through recently discovered new material in my forthcoming history of New Zealand early aviation. Errol |
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