Christchurch Airport history.

[corsair67]

Has anyone here bought this book? Is it worth buying?


History of Christchurch International Airport
Tuesday, 13 February 2007, 4:21 pm
Press Release: Christchurch International Airport

With Great Foresight, by historian Tony Phillips, is the story of Christchurch International Airport. Today this corporate entity, with 75% Christchurch City Council and 25% Government ownership, has established a position as the Gateway for the Best of the South Island and Antarctica. It is the second largest international airport in the New Zealand and provides employment for around 4,500 people, processes 5.5 million passengers, and around 100,000 tones of freight annually.

However, this facility grew from humble beginnings and the book traces its development from the 1930s when the Christchurch City Council decided that the city required a dedicated municipal aerodrome. It faithfully records the World War II period when it was used by the Defence Authorities to train 6,000 RNZAF recruits and 3,550 airmen pilots.

The story highlights the efforts of a number of very capable administrators, well-known local politicians, and successful businessmen and women. The development of the airport has not always proceeded without opposition and many battles have been fought throughout the years with central Government, local bodies and developers. It is a story of foresight, where over the last 70 years successive decisions have been made with the long-term development of the region and the South Island in mind. It also covers the airport's long association with airlines, aircraft maintenance, training, Antarctic aviation and the Canterbury Aero Club.

Copiously illustrated with over 300 photographs, With Great Foresight will be enjoyed by everyone interested in New Zealand aviation, transport or the history of Christchurch.

[beagle]

With now residing in the region and having served at Wigram, and working just round the corner from CHC, and cruising around checking out different arrivals etc, I might have to have alook at the bookstores on my next day off, then again I will be able to do this more often since I have been put on night shift temporary.
Hopefully it might be a good read with some interesting stories or it could be just a book of facts and figures.
will have a browse and check back with a report teach.

[Dave Homewood]

Beagle and others,

If you're seriously interested in the early history of Harewood aerodrome, go along to the Christchurch City Library in town and have a look at the three volumes of 'Tiger Country' by Ramon K. Trollope. They're absolutely superb books covering the establishment of the airfield in the early days by the council, its prewar development and its wartime usage as a major RNZAF station. Mr Trollope trained there himself as a pilot, and he interviewed dozens of former staff. It's all in a diary form so very readable and a great resource.

Sadly just as he finished the book, Ramon passed away. He never saw the amazing work over three massive volumes published. But his son managed to get Christchurch International Airport to sponsor having it published, and just 53 copies of each volume were made to order. Christchurch central library has two complete sets and the airport also has some sets I believe. The National Library also has sets so you can interloan them though your local library. but basically no private copies are around to speak of so you ahve to go to the library.

For research and information. I give it 10/10. He even found out the fate of the WWI Albatross - dismantled and buried at Harewood. Not burned as in other books!

[corsair67]

Ordered a copy of this book last week (and recieved it on Tuesday), and have to say that it looks very good - apart from a couple of small typos that I've noticed so far - but then I'm a bit of a fussy bastard! ;D

Lots of excellent photos from throughout the airport's history, and in a way it is sad to see all those old hangars and buildings that I remember as a kid, but alas have disappeared to make way for extensions to the main terminal or other new buildings on site.

[flyjoe180]

I don't think it's too much to ask for a book with no spelling or grammatical errors. You see errors in the newspapers more and more these days too, a result of the widespread use of word processors on computers.

[corsair67]

To be fair to all authors out there, sometimes the errors seem to slip themselves in during the printing process.

We had a work publication come out last year with text in brackets "Paul, is this all good to go?" in the printed edition, that appeared nowhere in the final copy sent to the printers.

[flyjoe180]

;D ;D That's funny!

[corsair67]

Yeah, we all thought so too, but the French Dept at the Uni was not impressed because it was in their section of the book. ;D

[flyjoe180]

;D Classic

[Dave Homewood]

Craig, does the book cover the war years at all? Anything about No. 3 GR Squadron?

[corsair67]

Yes, it covers the whole period from 1937-2007. There is quite a bit about Harewood's as a training base and also 3GR Sqdn's time there. "Tiger Country" seems to be quoted quite a bit.

I never realised that some Hudsons and Kittyhawks were assembled there too.

[Dave Homewood]

Indeed, quite a big assembly unit there. Also No. 3 RD before it moved into town to Tuam Street (now the red light district these days I'm told)