NZ Aviation Pioneer Quiz

[Dave Homewood]

Pioneer Quiz - sorry, these are not terrinly inspired questions so you should get them easily...

1) Who was the first man to officially be recognised as having flown with controlled flight in New Zealand? (not Richard Pearse by the way)

2) Who was the first person to fly from one town to another? When, and in what sort of aircraft?

3) Who flew the first official mail route in New Zealand? From where to where? And in what sort of plane was the mail flown?

4) What tragic event occurred for aviation in Christchurch on the 1st of February 1919?

5) Where were aerobatics first displayed to the public? When, what event and who flew the aircraft?

6) Who was the first man to fly across Cook Strait?

7) What occurred on Bishop H.W. Cleary’s first ever flight? (he was mentioned in another quiz)

8) When George Bolt’s floatplane had a mishap in a river, what vehicle saved the aircraft and towed him to safety?

9) Which British officer traveled to New Zealand in 1919 to advise the New Zealand Government on how to handle aviation?

10) In 1919 four modern aircraft replaced the Canterbury Aviation Company’s tired Caudrons. What type were these four aircraft?

[DragonflyDH90]

1. Officially recognised - Vivian Walsh, Non-Official but highly probable Herbert Pither.
2. Will Scotland - Caudron C with Anzani 6cylinder radial, from somewhere near Invercargill to somewhere near Gore..
3. Will Scotland again flying the Caudron departed Timaru and dropped mail at Temuka and then flew onwards to Chch.
4. The Chief Flying Instructor of Canterbury Aviation Company was killed in a crash near Riccarton, the aircraft was designed and built by the Canterbury Aviation Company (photo as below, I think this is the only known photo but I could be wrong).




Not Will's Caudron but similar, I have got a shot of him with the Caudron somewhere but cant seem to find it at present. Nice aeroplane though, we have had thoughts of building a flying replica but have been having a little difficulty getting an engine (one will show up one day).



Ill leave the other questions for everyone else as Im out of info brain wise now.

[Dave Homewood]

1. Correct.

2. Correct

3. Well, despite Sotland flying mail from Timaru to Christchurch and dropping some at Temuka en route, my source states it is not officially recognised as the first air mail service. So, no. Unless you can prove it was recognised after my source was written. Incidentally the letter Scotland took to Christchurch he hand delivered to the recipient at her home personally, that's good service! I wonder how many other pieces of airmail have been handed personally to the recipient by the pilot, not many I'd think. I wonder if the letter survives today.

4. Correct. The pilot was Cecil M. Hill, chief pilot for the school, who had personally trained 182 pilots for the RFC and RAF during WWI. After a few mild stunts, the pilot entered a loop but a wing collapsed and the aircraft broke up, plunging to the ground. It was a serious blow for the aviation movement in NZ.

[DragonflyDH90]

Try this Dave, doesn't really make it conclusive by any stretch but quite interesting non the less.

homepages.paradise.net.nz/wclark/page2.htm