He was also a pioneer aviator, becoming one of the first to build and fly his own aeroplane in Ireland, and also went on to develop four-wheel drive systems for cars including pioneering their use in Formula One racing cars.
Tamén foi un aviador pioneiro, converténdose nun dos primeiros en construír e voar no seu propio avión en Irlanda, e tamén no desenvolvemento de sistemas de tracción ás catro rodas para automóbiles, incluíndo o seu uso pioneiro nos coches de carreiras de Fórmula Un.