Gisborne Aviation Preservation

[ngirl5]

Awesome <3<3<3
Betsy was gorgeous <3<3<3 The crew were really friendly too, they offered to take me on board for a visit but the airport wouldn't allow it. We had a great chat about possibilities for coming to Gis more often, they said it's only an hour from Ardmore so very doable for day or weekend trips. Being such a tourist spot we could be a destination for them.
Fingers crossed!!

[Dave Homewood]

Great news. The FlyDC3 crew are all awesome folks. Most of them are here on the forum.

[ngirl5]

Thanks Dave : ) Let's hope!! That's lovely to hear. They had alot of glowing things to say about you & WONZ too : )

[johnnyfalcon]

Do they do local scenics while stopping over?

[ngirl5]

Great thought J. I did ask them so I hope so. I'm not sure how it works when they're on tour. But I wondered if they might be able to as their guests are out doing cool things most of the day. Betsy is just sitting there waiting to fly : )

[ngirl5]

<3<3<3<3 Very sad news <3<3<3<3
We have lost the loveliest man in Gisborne aviation 

JONES, Granville Colin. On 12th March 2021 passed away peacefully, in his 82nd year. At Gisborne NZ.
Dearly loved husband of Marion. Loved and respected father of Kathryn, Barbara and Shirley.
Loved grandad of Callum, Natalie and Belinda; Sarah and Megan; Teah and Chloe.
Granville’s funeral service will be held at Evans Chapel, Ormond Road, Gisborne at 11am on Friday, 19th March.

Granville was a truly lovely man and a significant figure in Gisborne aviation for decades. He started the Gisborne Flying School in 1970 with his brother Roger, and encouraged and supported many people into aviation. He was a long standing key member of the Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society, and life member of the Gisborne Aero Club and AOPA NZ.
Granville's passing is a huge loss for the aviation community in Gisborne

He was so kind, warm and inclusive, and made everyone feel welcome. One of the loveliest souls you could ever meet <3<3<3
He had the most wonderful commentary voice and style at the GAPS airshows, he was always a joy to listen to. So warm, kind and funny. He was a wonderful mix of classic vintage radio personality and down to earth dagg on the mic : ) And made everyone in the crowd feel so welcome, like one big family
He was always so ageless, I had no idea he was the age he actually was.

Granville was awarded an AOPA 50 year membership medal in December 2020, with the following citation:
www.facebook.com/129394527749634/posts/granville-and-marion-jones-recieving-a-50-year-aopa-membership-medal-at-our-end-/671095553579526/

'In appreciation of the work you put into leading the Eastland team in promoting the area to other members and organising accomodation, entertainment and bus travel on many visits to the area. You awakened many members to the assets of the East coast and East cape area. We thank you both and your team.'

Truly saddened Granville is no longer with us <3<3<3
As he was so significant in our community I hope there will be an obituary for him in the Gisborne Herald. I will update if that is published.

[johnnyfalcon]

Nice heartfelt tribute

[Dave Homewood]

Sad news, my condolences.

[ngirl5]

Thanks so much guys <3<3<3<3
I didn't know him well personally but I saw him often at GAPS and their airshows and always loved and appreciated every conversation I had with him. He was like the centre of GAPS for me. He was such a wonderful, radiant, special soul. 
As a woman and a non-expert aviation fan he always talked to me as an equal and was so inclusive, which meant alot to me and really helped me to feel validated and part of things.
Many people knew him better than I did, I feel a bit underqualified to make a post about him but I can share what I knew of him and let people know about his passing.
Thanks so much for caring <3<3<3<3

[ngirl5]

To share a memory - albeit one that is only small in comparison to his contribution to aviation in Gisborne - at the last GAPS airshow in Jan 2019 Granville hit new commentary heights giving us all verbal gunfire over the PA during a dogfight
I've only been to one airshow outside of Gis so I don't know how common that is but I thought it was fantastic he had the playfulness and the confidence to do that over a PA to a large crowd He was brilliant.
"Get 'em Frank!! DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA!!!!' Then him cracking up on the mic. While sounding like he was delivering the whole commentary from a Lazy-Boy chair, he was so laid back. If he was never in radio, he should have been. Relaxation radio
He had so much enjoyment and playfulness with it, he was one of those amazing souls who never lost that even after decades in it. He sparked that in people <3<3<3<3

[ngirl5]

There was an amazing flyover for Granville's funeral this morning with Harvard 66, Snafu the Tiger Moth, a number of small planes and a helicopter all flying in a line <3<3<3<3
I didn't get to see it sadly but a friend did, it was an amazing sight apparently which I'm sure it would have been. 
A beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul   xxxxxxxx
Hopefully the Gisborne Herald will have photos, or if anyone does please post them <3<3<3<3

[johnnyfalcon]

Love your enthusiastic and dedicated updates!

[ngirl5]

Oh thanks so much J!! I really appreciate your appreciation : ) And the likes and comments from everyone who is so kindly acknowledging me banging away over here by my lelf haha.
I'm always a bit nervous posting, not being a pilot etc. I really appreciate the kindness and inclusivity of some of the WONZ community : )
It's inspiring being able to read from and interact with such amazing people who have lived and breathed aviation most or all of their lives. It's a hella treat for a fan like me. Love you guys!! <3<3<3<3

[Peter Lewis]

The 'early biplane circa 1915' is the Walsh Bros Airco DH6, date would be 1920 as is the following one.

This aircraft was imported by Stan Hatten, of Ormond, Gisborne and then almost immediately sold to Walsh Bros for  £400.
From Gisborne it moved down the coast, reaching Wellington in August 1920 where it was badly damaged in an overnight gale and never flew again.

[errolmartyn]

Apr 4, 2021 11:52:25 GMT 12 ngirl5 said:

Thanks so much, that's fantastic to know : ) I grew up at Ormond just down the road from a Mike Hatten who lived in one of the oldest if not the oldest remaining house there. Wonder if he was a relative! Must find out : )
Do you have any other info about Stan? (or if there is already some here on WONZ somewhere)
Very sad about the DH6 Is it still alive somewhere static? I can look it up of course but if anyone is happy to share info.
If anyone has any Gisborne-East Coast related info please feel free to post here anytime : )

Thomas Stanley Hatten's NZEF (and WWII?) service record can be viewed online through Archives NZ's Archway.
Errol

[errolmartyn]

Apr 4, 2021 19:24:00 GMT 12 ngirl5 said:

Brilliant thanks so much Errol : ) I so appreciate that. I will check that out. I've found a pile of other potentially interesting leads as well thanks to yours and Peter's info, I will update when I've checked them out : )
It turns out Mike/Michael Hatten is a relative of Thomas Stanley Hatten and still lives at Hatten House in Ormond, across the road from Ormond School where Mike has been the caretaker since I was there in the 1980s. The Ormond School site says he is still currently the caretaker there.
Hatten House is a heritage site www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/7632
There's great history info under the 'Additional Information' heading at the link
My parents also have a little locally made booklet on the history of Ormond. I'll see what I can hunt out!
Fascinating stuff. And some wonderful unexpected learning for me about where I grew up : )

It would be interesting to learn if Mike Hatten or family still have any paperwork or photos relating to the purchase of the DH6 from England.
Cheers,
Errol

[Peter Lewis]

I did some digging about Hatten years ago.

Apparently he was a 'returned soldier' from WW1, but Errol at that time could find no evidence of any aviation involvement.
The Hatten family were involved in the Ormond to Gisborne bus service, and one theory was that Stan had visions of providing an aerial adjunct to that business.

No previous identity is currently known for the DH6, so it was presumably a factory new aircraft when bought in the UK.
It arrived in NZ in February 1920, was assembled at Kohimarama, and first flew there on 22Feb1920.
By then Hatten seemed to have realized that operating the aircraft was beyond him (and his family firm) so sold it to the flying school.
I believe it was then allotted - but never displayed -the fleet code 'H'.
The DH6 then carried out the 1st ever Auckland-Hamilton flight 9Apr20, flown by Jimmy Woods. It performed the return flight back to Auckland on the 12th.

In May this aircraft was shipped to Gisborne, reassembled, and flew again there by Woods on the 13th. After an 'incident' on the same day the DH6 was repaired at the Gisborne showgrounds and flew again on 2nd June in the hands of George Bolt. It was then based at the Makaraka racecourse and carried out joyriding there.

On 19th June Bolt headed the DH6 south to Hawkes Bay with a forced landing due to engine trouble being carried on the way there. Based near Hastings, care of the DH6 was then passed from Bolt to Dick Russell.

For the balance of June 1920 and into July Russell carried out joyriding activities with the DH6 as he headed south through Dannevirke, Palmerston North, Feilding and finally to the Hutt Park racecourse at Petone on 19th August.

The DH6 was joined at Hutt Park by Walsh's Avro F9745, and both aircraft were damaged by a gale on the night of 25th/26th August. The Avro only suffered light damaged but the DH6 had been blown right over a fence and seriously damaged.

The DH6 was railed back to Auckland accompanied by Bolt, placed into storage, and never reappeared. When the NZ Government took over the assets of the Walsh enterprise in 1924 the remains of the DH6 were burnt on the Kohmarama beach along with many of the other Walsh stored aircraft.

Russell continued his joyriding tour with the Avro until that was destroyed in the fatal crash at Wanganui on 11th November.

See also
rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/20097/nzfs-dh-6

rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/4192/big-boeing-company-story

[Dave Homewood]

The Beaver isn't smaller than a Harvard, it's actually bigger. Go stand next to one and you'll see what I mean. Those configured for passengers can take seven people.

[Dave Homewood]

ZK-BVA flies over here reasonably often, I guess going to and from Rukuhia. It does sound awesome!

[ngirl5]

Really!! Wow. My only time so far of standing next to it was at the GAPS airshow in 2019. There were 6 - 7 Harvards further across the way but in my plane-stoned haze I can't remember how they compare. (wish I'd taken a photo of that, they were all parked in a row with the beautiful Gisborne sky and hills behind them in the late afternoon sun <3<3<3)
Awesome you get to see BVA over there Is Rukuhia Hamilton Airport or is the RNZAF airfield still there?