THE RIDDLE OF RICHARD PEARSE
Gordon Ogilvie
ISBN0790003295

A self-taught, backyard mechanic from a remote New Zealand farm, Richard Pearse was not only among the first to leave the ground in a heavier-than-air machine, but was conducting his experiments at the same time as the Wright brothers. He acomplished a powered takeoff in his own aircraft, possibly as early as 31 March 1903. First published in 1973 this is the revised edition 1994. 

Reed Publishing Ltd., Auckland, 1994. Softback. 264 pages. SECONDHAND