100 Years of Aviation in Nelson

[Dave Homewood]

100 Years of Aviation in Nelson
Nelson
Thursday 11 to Saturday 13 November 2021
Richard Waugh 022 533 9400

[nuuumannn]

A bit of information about this event since activities begin next week. Here is a link to the Nelson airport site, with a full itinerary:

www.nelsonairport.co.nz/100thaviationanniversary

There will be joy flights offered in Fox Moth ZK-APT and Dominie ZK-AKY from Motueka airport on the 12th and Nelson on the 13th. There is hope Bill Reid can bring the Anson and Stan Smith his Dragon ZK-AXI along for the display day on the 13th at Nelson Airport.

[nuuumannn]

A few images of local aviation sites taken a couple of weeks ago.

This is in Stoke, with the road running from left to right being Main Road Stoke and the road from top to bottom at left is Songer Street. The grass area at the bottom in front of the tennis courts is where the first landing of an aeroplane took place in Nelson, on 11 November 1921 Avro 504K E9429 flown by Capt P.K. 'Shorty' Fowler on his way to Spring Grove, near Brightwater, Tasman after running low on petrol.

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Saxton Field Recreation Reserve in the centre of this image is the location of Nelson's first airport, the Cook Strait Airways hangar being located on the roadside at centre right heading diagonally toward the top of the image into Richmond, which is a continuation of Main Road Stoke.

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Nelson Airport today in its entirety, with the new terminal and its peaked roof and Air New Zealand Regional Maintenance Ltd's Hangar One dominating the scene.

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On approach to Runway Zero Two.

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The new terminal and RML's hangar. To the right of the terminal next to the white domed building, Air New Zealand Cargo's temporary facility is the last vestiges of the old terminal, which since these pictures were taken has been demolished.

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This image shows the Avro having landed at Spring Grove. Used with Permission.

Spring Grove Landing Site Small

The caption from Waugh and McConnell's excellent book The Story of Nelson Aviation: "At William Arnold's Farm at Spring Grove, mid-afternoon on 11 November 1921, a group photograph is taken. From left: Ted Ranish (mechanic), P.K. 'Shorty' Fowler (pilot), Alexander Thomson (Mrs Newman's father), Christina Newman and Tom Newman. Tom Newman had planned for the pioneering flight to land on his Naumai farm but Fowler decided a large paddock was preferable on Arnold's nearby property. Note the two spring-type aircraft tie-downs on the ground in front of Fowler. (ATL)"

[Dave Homewood]

Excellent photos there Grant!

[scrooge]

I don't think the Dragon shall be attending, we're all trapped in Level 3.

[nuuumannn]

Nov 3, 2021 16:32:17 GMT 12 scrooge said:

I don't think the Dragon shall be attending, we're all trapped in Level 3.

That is distinctly probable, but I've been assured that Stan and the rest of the Auckland-based contingent are applying for exemption status, but, it is looking bleak.

[nuuumannn]

An update on next week's happenings in Nelson, Bill Reid has confirmed the Anson will be attending and will be on public display at the airport on Saturday 13 November.

Here's the latest itinerary of what's happening.

Wednesday 10 November:

There will be VIP flights in the Fox Moth and Dominie of representatives of families of those involved 100 years ago. No public access for these VIP flights, but the Fox Moth is offering afternoon flights to the public.

Thursday 11 November (100th anniversary day):

10am-10.30am: at Nelson Airport Terminal unveiling of plaque with due ceremony – Vintage aircraft on prominent nearby display. Fox Moth readies for its first re-enactment flight. Refreshments at nearby cafe.

12.30pm: At Putangitangi Greenmeadows Centre, unveiling of enlarged photograph and Information caption (near site of first emergency landing) with due ceremony.


1pm: Fox Moth re-enacts 1921 arrival flight. Flies over Nelson City (Trafalgar Street council building) at about 1.05pm – circles - and then on to Stoke.

1.10pm: Fox Moth flies over Greenmeadows Centre with public and Stoke School children outside. Short circling display over Stoke, including over Stoke School, before going on to circle over Richmond. The Fox Moth will then return for a short time to Nelson Airport.

1.05-1.15pm Dominie flies over Nelson, Stoke and Waimea about 10 minutes after the Fox Moth, followed by Anson. A tribute to early airline work and especially Cook Strait Airways and RNZAF Base Nelson years. Return to Nelson Airport before joining the Spring Grove and return flight.

2.15pm: School children from Brightwater and Wakefield schools arrive at Spring Grove Drill Hill grass area at Spring Grove.

2.30pm: Fox Moth flies over Brightwater and Spring Grove with brief circling display over the Drill Hall, Spring Grove. Dominie and Anson follow soon after and then join the Fox Moth over Spring Grove for formation flight over Waimea and back over to Richmond, Stoke and Nelson before returning to Nelson Airport.

2.40pm: School children and public walk up road to plaque and Information Panels where due ceremony to unveil.

3pm: School children and public walk back to Spring Grove Drill Hall grass area. Children taken back to school or picked up by parents. Official party and any interested members of the public go to Headquarters’ Café at 36 Ellis Street, Brightwater for user-pays afternoon tea refreshments.

Friday 12 November:

9am (approx.): Fox Moth flies to Motueka via Nelson, Richmond, Waimea and Mapua. Accompanied by DH89 Dominie and Anson. Fly over the Motueka township before landing at Motueka.

10am: Fox Moth and Dominie and Anson land at Motueka Airport. On the ground for display and inspection. Dominie and Fox Moth available for on-demand local joy-ride flights all day.

4.30pm (approx.): Fox Moth and Dominie and Anson return to Nelson Airport. However, if there is still public interest in joyriding for Dominie and Fox Moth, could be a later departure.

Saturday 13 November:

10am-to-4pm: The hardstanding in front of the Air New Zealand hangar will be opened for public access from outside the Nelson Airport terminal, the Anson and perhaps a Dash 8 will be on display, with the Fox Moth and Dominie being displayed there in between joy flights, depending on demand. It's not an "airshow" or "event", merely an opportunity for the public to look at some old aeroplanes up close.

The Fox Moth and Dominie will be available for public joy flights, enquiries to be made through the Origin Air check-in counter in the terminal. There has been a bit of interest in these. The Anson may do private flying but is not available through Origin.

Final flights around mid-afternoon.

6.30pm: Aviation 100th Celebration dinner at the Rutherford Hotel for local aviation fraternity and the interested public to celebrate 100 years of aviation in Nelson/Tasman. User pays. Formalities and meal from 7pm.

Obviously, this is all dependent on weather and COVID-19 restrictions.

More information here: www.nelsonairport.co.nz/100thaviationanniversary

AKY Small

DH83C APT Small

[typerated]

Any idea on timings for Wednesday? might be the only day with decent weather!

[nuuumannn]

Nov 9, 2021 7:13:19 GMT 12 typerated said:

Any idea on timings for Wednesday? might be the only day with decent weather!

Yup, the forecast looks pretty rotten on Thursday through Saturday, which might affect the outside things!

The Wednesday flights in the Dominie begin around 10am, but these ones are for VIPs and dignitaries only, the Fox Moth is booked to do public flights on Wednesday afternoon from 1pm though. Looking at the website, the Dominie isn't offering public flights on Wednesday. See here for a schedule:

static1.squarespace.com/static/57df12e4e3df28c822c8345d/t/6170d0e1601029764e5caf4c/1634783458794/BOOKING+PAGE+-+pdf.pdf

The latest news is that Stan Smith has been given an exemption and the Dragon will take part, arriving at Nelson on Wednesday sometime. It isn't listed as offering flights, though.

[nuuumannn]

A quick few pictures after a day of talking to and photographing people associated with the event. Foxy in Nelson, Bill's Anson in the background.

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Foxy and a Canadian sibling.

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NSN from Foxy.

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The Dominie did good business.

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The Anson looking sharp in front of the wartime hangar.

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Nelson city centre.

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Stoke Airport, now Saxton Field; was pleased to get this shot as Dominies operated from the airport with Cook Strait airways.

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Dominie basking in the sun between flights.

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Taken from a vantage point in the terminal.

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The Dominie off again.

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Foxy spent the afternoon giving public flights and there was plenty of interest after the VIP flights ended.

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[Dave Homewood]

Excellent! I wish I could be there.

[Deleted]

I saw another DH airliner burble past our house last night on its way to Nelson. Please note: object in photo was closer than it appears!
ZK-AXI Whanganui 101121 Zac Yates by Zac Yates, on Flickr

[nuuumannn]

The day of the anniversary, the 11th was grey and brooding, but a small crowd of dignitaries turned up to the airport for the plaque unveiling.

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From the upstairs window of the terminal, the VIPs were given the opportunity to view outside; a row of airport servicing vehicles obscured by a bunch of old smelly aeroplanes.

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A photoshoot in front of the aircraft enables us to go out onto the tarmac.

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The small fleet of aircraft was supposed to do flypasts over the city and associated venues, but the weather kept them firmly grounded.

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Publicity type shots for the Airport company...

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The elegant Dominie clashing with the starkness of the Neo-Modernist tower.

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The Anson looking warlike in the gray.

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The Dragon made it through to NSN from Kapiti early before the cludge set in. Zippy Vincent, Originair Ops Manager sampling the cockpit.

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The plaque at the landing site at Spring Grove, near Brightwater.

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The plaque and display board on the roadside telling why the Avro landed at Spring Grove in the first place, after its unscheduled landing at the Marsden's land in Stoke for fuel (just don't mention that the aeroplane type is misspelt as an "Arvo 504K"...). The landing site across the road is now an orchard.

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[Deleted]

Lovely photos Grant and thank you for sharing the plaque and sign in situ. It's wonderful to see commemorations like this still being done - I believe the centenary of Wanganui's first flight last year went unnoticed by most.

[nuuumannn]

Yesterday the aircraft flew to Motueka to do joy flights and to partake in the 100th-anniversary commemorations of aviation in Mot and another plaque unveiling. The Dominie and Foxy had a good half-day of public flights until the wind crept up. The Dominie awaiting custom.

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A couple of the aircraft on the display line, Chipmunk ZK-CVM.

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Nanchang ZK-STP.

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PAC 750XL ZK-DVE

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The Dragon.

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The plaque honouring 100 years of aviation in Mot.

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The backdrop was the rather beautiful Pietenpol.

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A model of an Airco DH.4 in the Mot Aero Club building.

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Lastly, the Dragon from the deck in front of the Aero Club. The wind refused to let up, so the vintage aeroplanes were packed into hangars for the night and there they remain as Mot was fogged in this morning.

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To be continued...

[Deleted]

Thanks for sharing, Grant! It's particularly nice to see China Doll, I don't remember the last time I saw her.

[Dave Homewood]

Terrific photos!

[nuuumannn]

The last lot come from Saturday's public open day at Nelson airport outside the maintenance hangars. The weather was dismal for the first few hours and the aircraft didn't arrive back from Motueka until late afternoon, but the public who did get to the airport were able to inspect all the aircraft close up as there was no joy flying.

The Fox Moth, Dominie and Dragon outside, with the Anson tucked away in the hangar.

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I didn't bother taking any more images of the aircraft, except these two of Foxy with its wings folded, since I'd never seen this before.

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The Dragon's wings are being folded in the background.

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so, that was the last event of the Nelson Centenary of Aviation, apart from a dinner at the Rutherford, but I went and photographed the Nelson landing site in Stoke in sunnier weather since on the actual anniversary day it was rainy. This is the plaque made by the Nelson Aero Club on the occasion of its 25th anniversary in 1957.

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Inside the Green Meadows Centre, this image was unveiled on Thursday. It's at an angle because it faces a window and to avoid reflection I had to photograph it like so. I didn't get a decent one on the unveiling day owing to the crowd present. The Avro can be seen in front of the chapel and hotel, neither of which are there today and because of the building and tennis courts where the photo was taken it's impossible to get an accurate comparison. The chapel still survives and has been relocated to Appleby in Tasman, north of Richmond.

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This is the field where the Avro landed, the Green Meadows Centre is located to the left of the image out of frame.

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This land all belonged to the Marsden family, who lived in Isel House, which is a museum today and the grounds around the house is a public park. It's a great place to walk the dogs.

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Around the back of the house is a display board describing it and the Marsden family history with the same image as seen in the Green Meadows Centre.

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So, that's it from Nelson. Thanks to Graeme McConnell, Richard Waugh, Richard Kempthorne, Murray Vincent, Grant May, the air crew and a whole host of helpers for their efforts and perseverance in making the events happen.

[Deleted]

Thank you for sharing all these photos Grant, I especially enjoyed seeing the site of the first landing. Almost looks like one could land a 504k there today...

[nuuumannn]

Thanks Zac. Today I said goodbye to John, Stan and Scott as they departed in the Dragon this morning. Yesterday I took John down to Saxton Field to look at the old Stoke Airport site, unrecognisable now of course. It's worth noting that when Fowler left the Marsden's property in Stoke, he set off for Saxton's farm, where he had sent Ranish and Newman because he thought that there wasn't enough space for him to take off fully laden from the Marsden's, and so the Avro landed at two spots in Nelson on the same day, before departing for Spring Grove.

This is the plaque that Graeme and Richard had erected years ago on the border of the airfield.

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The plaque is located on the edge of the Saxton Stadium car park, and just beyond the closest line of trees was the northern end of the north/south runway. The hangars were against the distant line of trees.

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The Cook Strait Airways hangar was located approximately here, that's Main Road Stoke to the right behind the trees. The embankment was added because when it rains heavily, as it has a tendency to do, water washes from the site onto the road.

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This is taken from the embankment and is looking toward the north/south-oriented runway that runs from beyond where the clubhouse is located and crosses in front of us to the left-hand side of the image. There was also an east to west runway and northeast-southwest and southeast-northwest runways.

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Because the weather was so rough on the day of the unveiling I went back to the Spring Grove site and got some photos in better weather conditions. This shows the landing site on the opposite side of the road from the plaque.

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In the background can be seen Telenius House, which is visible from approximately this angle behind the Avro in the historic photograph taken on site 100 years ago.

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This next photo is the front face of Telenius House on the corner of Telenius Road, running in front of the house and Higgins Road running alongside to the left. Built for Carl Telenius, a wealthy individual who made his money as a draper, in 1884, the house is listed on Trademe.

www.trademe.co.nz/a/property/residential/sale/nelson-tasman/tasman/brightwater/listing/3167514818?bof=R38ohYL6

The blue footbridge can be seen to the left, on the far side of which is located the display board and plaque. Of interest is that further down this road was the birthplace of Ernest Rutherford, his parents' farmhouse having been long demolished. From this point in front of Telenius House stretching north toward Brightwater, behind me the road I'm standing on is named Lord Rutherford Road South.

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