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Post by turboNZ on Mar 6, 2006 22:04:38 GMT 12
You see the news tonight?
Showed the flypast of the 5 Spitfires.
Also a short interview with that great man, Alex Henshaw. He looks great for his age.
Ohh,...those 5 Merlins sounded luv'ly..!!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2006 22:24:57 GMT 12
Yes indeed, it was an intersting report. I was surprised and pleased to see Alex Henshaw was going up in the two seater. Great stuff.
Of course another milestone of March 5th that the media missed, except Jim Sullivan on 'Sounds Historical' last night (National Radio's best show!!), was the 95th anniversary of Arthur Shaef's flight from Lyall Bay beach in NZ's first (official) homebuild aircraft "New Zealand Vogel"
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Post by Bruce on Mar 7, 2006 13:35:41 GMT 12
well actually Arthur Shaefs aircraft wouldnt have been the first homebuilt in NZ, official or otherwise. Without a doubt Richard pearse constructed a homebuilt in 1903ish - the doubt is whether it flew in a sustained, controlled manner. After that Herbert pither in Invercargill also constructed a homebuilt which was definitely more practical, and aparently more sucessful, but not witnessed. The first recorded flight in NZ was in 1910 by the Walsh brothers in Auckland, and although the aircraft was a Wright Farman imported from overseas, it arrived as a kit of raw materials - cloth and uncut timber etc, and certainly more than 51% was constructed by the Walsh family (even the Sago taughteneing material) which would make it a homebuilt within even the strictest definition - all before 1911 when Arthur Shaef completed "NZ Vogel".
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2006 13:46:55 GMT 12
I guess when Jim Sullivan mentioned the anniversary he meant first NZ-designed aircraft to be witnessed flying.
Sure the Wright Farman was assembled in NZ after being brought in from an American factory, but Toyotas used to be too, are they NZ cars? No. I know what you mean though.
The photo in The History of New Zealand Aviation of Shaef's aircraft shows it looking like it's in a stall just feet off the ground anyway, is that really controlled flight either?
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Post by Bruce on Mar 7, 2006 14:44:29 GMT 12
"Sure the Wright Farman was assembled in NZ after being brought in from an American factory, but Toyotas used to be too, are they NZ cars? No. I know what you mean though. "
The Walsh Farman count really be described as being from an American factory, other than the timber, wire and fabric may have been packed there. It definitely flew (quite well) and was witnessed by several hundered people therefore it was:
1. NZ built
2. Controlled flight
3. Witnessed.
4. Acurately dated
I think you can get too specific with "firsts" to a point where anything can be a "first"- My aircraft will be the first aircraft designed and built in cambridge, built from Aluminium and powered by a Subaru engine to fly during the 21st Century (sometime...) painted blue and white!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2006 15:29:30 GMT 12
Yes, you're right. I guess Jim Sullivan was incorrect. Not to worry, he's not an aviation buff like us..
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Post by kapaizealandia on Oct 8, 2008 23:20:47 GMT 12
I have a nice photo of the Vogel craft from 1911 parked in Hagley Park Christchurch.
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