Aviation pioneers

Press, 1 February 1983, Page 19

Aviation pioneers

A new three-part documentary series which tells the story of the men and machines involved in the development of aviation in New Zealand will begin on One tonight. "Off The Ground" has been researched. written and directed by Conon Fraser of the National Film Unit. The three parts, titled "The First To Fly." "Challenge and Crisis" and "The Modern Pioneers." look respectively at the controversy surrounding the early flights of Richard Pearse; the impact of New Zealand aviation of famous fliers and overseas advances in aviation technology; and the aircraft and air crews who were to become the back--bone of the National Airways

Corporation. Tonight's programme. “The First To Fly," opens with Richard Pearse. The first person in the British Empire to fly, Pearse, is now thought to have also achieved sustained flight more than a year before the Wright brothers. The programme looks at other New Zealanders who played a prominent part in early world aviation — Herbert Pinther. who built and flew the worlds first allmetal framed aircraft, and the Walsh brothers, who pioneered the seaplane design. The Walsh brothers, who founded the New Zealand Flying School, in which, from the outset of World War I, many New Zealanders served with distinction. The brothers also owned the first

two machines built by the giant Boeing Aircraft’ Corporation — craft with which George Bolt laid the foundations of commercial flying after the war. "Off the Ground." produced by Tom Williamson of National Film Unit, is presented by a Mount Cook Airlines pilot and aviationhistory enthusiast. Peter Clements. Williamson first met Clements as a passenger on one of his Mount Cook Airlines flights and was impressed by the stories and little-known facts about the history of New Zealand aviation that the pilot could offer. When Clements suggested that the National Film Unit should make a documentary on the' subject, Williamson agreed.