Alan Pritchard

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Alan Pritchard was a pilot for the New Zealand Public Works Department from the late 1930s to mid 1950s. Using a Miles Whitney Straight from 1939 on his own initiative and sometimes forging aircraft log books to conceal his work, Pritchard conducted trials of aerial seed sowing and spreading fertilizer which ultimately lead to the development of aerial topdressing.

References

• Alexander, G. & J. S. Tullett, The Super Men. A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, 1967 (a popular, anecdotal history of the early years of top dressing)
• D.A. Campbell Some observations on Top dressing in New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology Volume X 1948 (the article which started the industry).
• Ewing, Ross and MacPherson, Ross The History of New Zealand Aviation, Heinemann, 1986
• Geelen, Janic The Topdressers NZ Aviation Press. Te Awamutu, 1983 (a more comprehensive history of New Zealand top dressing, mostly regional, with separate chapters about matters such as aircraft development).

External links

• Encyclopedia history of Topdressing to the mid 1960s
• New Zealand topdressing history

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