Canterbury Aviation co Biplane

[shane]

Hi guys
I was wondering if anyone knew any more information on this aircraft.
www.gregorie.org/gregories/history/cfs_biplane.htm
It was built during WW1 by the Canterbury Aviation company.
Numerous books have mentioned that a number of aircraft were built by the CAC the first being a single seat cauldron built by J.G.Mackie. Does anyone have any pictures or information on these aircraft.

[Peter Lewis]

CAC biplane
1Jan1919 Canterbury (NZ) Aviation Co.Ltd., Sockburn
Fully aerobatic two-seater, 80hp Anzani. Similar to a Sopwith Tabloid. F/f 17Jan19.
Structural failure in air while looping over Riccarton racecourse 1Feb19. Pilot Cecil Hill.

The page you linked to pretty well covers it, really.

CAC had six imported Caudron GIII one and two-seat trainers.
They built up three locally made copies - #3 #5 and #9

#3 - Caudron-type single seater
'White Wings' F/f 21Jul17
Local copy built by J G Mackie at Sockburn. Single-seater, 45hp Anzani ex-Scotland fitted. F/f 21Jul17.
Badly damaged in cr on t/off Sockburn 7Oct17. Pilot H Morse.

#5 - Caudron-type 2-seater
Local copy built by J G Mackie at Sockburn. Dual control, fitted with 60hp Motor ex-#2
F/f Oct17
WFU Sockburn 1920

#9 - Caudron-type single-seater
Local copy built by J G Mackie at Sockburn. Single-seater, 45hp Anzani.
F/f May18.
WFU Sockburn 1920

[shane]

thanks flyernzl. I was wondering how many had been built for some time. Mr J G Mackie must have been quite the engineer.

[obiwan27]

There is an article in The Christchurch Press today about Cecil Hill and the crash of the CAC Biplane aircraft mentioned in this thread. The crash was fatal and witnessed by people at the Riccarton Racecourse. The cause of the crash (assuming it is correct) will I think, shock you. The first sub division in the new 'Wigram Skies' development is named Cecil Hill in his memory.

www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/lifestyle/3905578/Kiwi-ingenuitys-fatal-flaw

www.wigramskies.co.nz/for-sale/cecil-hill-neighbourhood

[trx850]

Hi to all. Here's a photos of one of the Caudron's.
Unfortunately, no dates or any other information.

Photo via David Wilson.
There is another one with a crowd around it that I'll dig out and scan.

Cheers,
Pete M.

[delticman]

Nov 22, 2009 17:33:12 GMT 12 Peter Lewis said:

CAC biplane
1Jan1919 Canterbury (NZ) Aviation Co.Ltd., Sockburn
Fully aerobatic two-seater, 80hp Anzani. Similar to a Sopwith Tabloid. F/f 17Jan19.
Structural failure in air while looping over Riccarton racecourse 1Feb19. Pilot Cecil Hill.

The page you linked to pretty well covers it, really.

CAC had six imported Caudron GIII one and two-seat trainers.
They built up three locally made copies - #3 #5 and #9

#3 - Caudron-type single seater
'White Wings' F/f 21Jul17
Local copy built by J G Mackie at Sockburn. Single-seater, 45hp Anzani ex-Scotland fitted. F/f 21Jul17.
Badly damaged in cr on t/off Sockburn 7Oct17. Pilot H Morse.

#5 - Caudron-type 2-seater
Local copy built by J G Mackie at Sockburn. Dual control, fitted with 60hp Motor ex-#2
F/f Oct17
WFU Sockburn 1920

#9 - Caudron-type single-seater
Local copy built by J G Mackie at Sockburn. Single-seater, 45hp Anzani.
F/f May18.
WFU Sockburn 1920

Thanks Errol, I then found this. Peter did a fine job of listing the aircraft.

[ZacYates]

Given the aircraft seems to have existed for little more than a month, I’m guessing this is the only photo out there? Has anyone ever seen anything else?

[martymonsta]

I have a couple if pics of it just after construction (before fabric applied) at Sockburn/Wigram: the AHS will have this set, so there a few out there…

[fwx]

When Cecil McKenzie Hill was killed at Riccarton, he left behind a pregnant widow (Elsie Mary Hill) and a young daughter, Marjorie.

Six weeks later Elsie had a son, also named Cecil McKenzie.

Cecil McKenzie Hill born 22 March 1919

Cecil Jr also became a pilot, receiving his commission as Pilot Officer in the RNZAF in July 1938.

He sailed to England on the ‘Tainui’, departing Wellington on 3 February 1939 to take up a Short Service Commission with the RAF in March 1939. So he was already in England when the war started.

Cecil McKenzie Hill, RAFVR 36172 – Pilot

Cecil served served with 75(NZ) Squadron as a pilot on Wellingtons, March – June 1941.

June 1941 - Reported wounded, a bullet in the left thigh and on the seriously ill list. Mother Mrs E.N. Hill, 35 Mansfield Ave, St Albans, Christchurch.

(Not surprisingly, the newspaper report did not give the cause of his serious wound - one of his pilot colleagues at 75 (NZ) Squadron accidentally shot him in the thigh with his service revolver while out rabbit shooting on the far side of Feltwell aerodrome!)

After recuperating from his injury, he returned to 75(NZ) Squadron as “B” Flight Commander with rank of Acting Squadron Leader, 13.3.42 – 4.5.42.

February 1944 – received Mention In Despatches, Acting Squadron Leader Cecil McKenzie Hill, RAF, Christchurch.

His Short Service Commission expired in March 1944 and he was given a temporary commission in the RNZAF with the rank of Squadron Leader:

NZ2170 Cecil McKenzie Hill

Survived the war, returned to Christchurch, later farmed with a cousin near Ashburton, apparently never married. Retired to Yaldhurst.

Cecil McKenzie Hill died 31 December 2000, aged 81.

[Dave Homewood]

Great story there Chris, thanks for that.