WI - Richard Pearse is more successful with his flight publicity?

New Zealand pioneer aviator Richard Pearse is credited often with the first powered flight at Waitohi (New Zealand), on the 31st of March in 1903 (9 months before the Wright Brothers).

The Wright Brothers had controlled powered flight more successfully and better publicity.

What if Richard Pearse had gained greater publicity for his flight, and been given some funding to improve on his designs? (which were advanced for the time)
 
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New Zealand pioneer aviator Richard Pearse is credited often with the first powered flight at Waitohi (New Zealand), on the 31st of March in 1903 (9 months before the Wright Brothers).

The Wright Brothers had controlled powered flight more successfully and better publicity.

What if Richard Pearse had gained greater publicity for his flight, and been given some funding to improve on his designs? (which were advanced for the time)
Probably not much, except for names in history books (outside the US, where even that won't change).

The Wright brothers and Curtis, as well as e.g. Blériot and Santos Dumont had the money and interest to keep pushing. It doesn't really sound like that's the case with Pearce, even if he HAD received recognition. Note that he gave up flight when he moved - whereas the Wright brothers traveled all the way to Kittyhawk from Ohio just to get better flying conditions.

If you wanted more successful early 'British Empire' aviation, then getting Curtis to join forces with Alexander Graham Bell, and for that team to get British funding seems ... possible.
 
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