Hello ODK history lovers
This topic is a tribute to an extraordinary New Zealander.
He shares the same gifted qualities as Australia’s Arthur Bishop,
although maybe not as prolific [see Related Reading].

Charles Vivian Crowe was born in 1916 at Hawke’s Bay,
New Zealand. He had an inquiring mind to say the least!

[Linked Image]

There are two points of interest for me: the first is thematic;
Crowe seems to have made an important contribution through
his inventions on land, air, and sea!

In the air, it is claimed he invented New Zealand’s first low-winged
monoplane in the 1930s. Much of his aviation story is told in his
book, “As the Crow Flies” first publish in 1949 [I have a 1992 reprint].

On the sea, Crowe developed his own range of outboard motors
and also his “Hydrodrive”, a hybrid design using a conventional
propeller forcing water through a venturi to create a controlled
jet-like thrust.

On the land, Crowe is credited with designing New Zealand’s
first rotary lawnmower, the Rotamoa, in about the mid-1950s.
Importantly, this was a rear catcher machine. Amazing!

My second area of interest lays within the commonality between
his inventions. His approach to his sea and land inventions seems
to have been informed by his understanding of aeronautics –
how airflow creates lift is just a variation of how water acting
through a venturi creates thrust [Hydrodrive], and how air
[and grass] acting through a venturi creates lift and thrust
[chuted lawnmower].

TO BE CONTINUED …