in article , G.R. Patterson III at
wrote on 1/12/04 10:31 PM:



K9 Lover wrote:

Of course, the greatest irony of all is that Richard Pearce beat them by the
best part of a year.

Prove it.

His actual name was Pearse, not Pearce. He himself conceded the first
"controlled" flight to the Wright Bros., since all of his early efforts
ended in crashes.

The most difficult thing about ascertaining Pearse's accomplishments is that
there is very little reliable eyewitness testimony. It seems to be limited
mostly to locals and schoolchildren who happened to be watching, and they
can seldom agree on exact dates.