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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 5, 2013 23:27:03 GMT 12
The 17th of January 2014 will mark 100 years since the New Zealand Defence Department's first aircraft, Bleriot XI "Britannia" lifted off for its first flight in New Zealand. It was flown by the first contracted military pilot in NZDD employ, Lieutenant Joe Hammond.
I was wondering with the big commemorations that will be beginning in 2014 to mark the Centenary of the First World War, will this milestone in New Zealand military aviation also be marked?
Will the Bleriot XI replica at Whenuapai by flying by then? Is it possible to perhaps do a repeat flight from Epsom Showgrounds in a Bleriot XI on that Centennial day perhaps?
The 17th of January 2014 is a Friday. I expect that the Tauranga City Airshow will be around that time, perhaps they could secure a Bleriot XI to makr the occasion with?
I hope the occasion doesn't simply slip by unremembered by the NZDF. I think a big military airshow is probably out of the question but something to mark the 100 years of NZ military aviation would be very nice indeed. What do you all think?
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Post by errolmartyn on Jan 6, 2013 9:41:42 GMT 12
The 17th of January 2014 will mark 100 years since the New Zealand Defence Department's first aircraft, Bleriot XI "Britannia" lifted off for its first flight in New Zealand. It was flown by the first contracted military pilot in NZDD employ, Lieutenant Joe Hammond. I was wondering with the big commemorations that will be beginning in 2014 to mark the Centenary of the First World War, will this milestone in New Zealand military aviation also be marked? Will the Bleriot XI replica at Whenuapai by flying by then? Is it possible to perhaps do a repeat flight from Epsom Showgrounds in a Bleriot XI on that Centennial day perhaps? The 17th of January 2014 is a Friday. I expect that the Tauranga City Airshow will be around that time, perhaps they could secure a Bleriot XI to makr the occasion with? I hope the occasion doesn't simply slip by unremembered by the NZDF. I think a big military airshow is probably out of the question but something to mark the 100 years of NZ military aviation would be very nice indeed. What do you all think? Although the Bleriot was presented to the New Zealand Government/Defence, no 'military' flights were made with it in New Zealand. The only flights made here were in a civilian capacity. The following excerpt from the forthcoming Vol Three of my A Passion for Flight explains: The contractual arrangements for Hammond and the Britannia were unusual. According to a later report Colonel Robert Logan, commanding officer of the Auckland district, stated that Hammond was on ‘contract’ to the Defence Department until 12 January, on which date this was terminated on his being employed by the ‘Exhibition Executive.’ When Allen touched on the subject of aviation in a Wellington interview on 22 January he stated that Hammond was not officially attached to the Department, but as he was recognised as a thoroughly competent airman there was no objection to his using the machine. The Blériot was contracted to the Exhibition people for a month, after which it would return to Defence. Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 6, 2013 10:33:19 GMT 12
In that case if the aircraft was leased to the Exhibition and he was not strictly part of the Defence Department but was flying for the Exhibition, there should never have been any fuss by the Defence people about him taking up a lady passenger, surely? Is that story therefore nonsense that they got all upset and fired him?
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Post by errolmartyn on Jan 6, 2013 14:47:56 GMT 12
. . . Is that story therefore nonsense that they got all upset and fired him? It seems so. Vol Three will cover the full Britannia/Hammond history in detail for the first time, including the Exhibition saga - too much to post here, regretably. Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 6, 2013 14:58:56 GMT 12
Fair enough. Thanks.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 6, 2013 14:59:51 GMT 12
Regardless of the contracts etc, do you think it is worth marking the centenary of Hammond's flight in Brittania in some way?
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Post by Bruce on Jan 6, 2013 17:50:51 GMT 12
Well, if you can find me an attractive show girl, I'll take her flying....  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 6, 2013 17:54:03 GMT 12
Haha.
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