Re-enactment of first ever flight to Tauranga - George Bolt
Mar 9, 2023 9:00:23 GMT 12
Dave Homewood likes this
Post by planewriting on Mar 9, 2023 9:00:23 GMT 12
On Sunday morning, 12 March, plans are in place for two Tauranga based Boeing Stearmans to participate in a commemorative flight to mark the centenary (plus 3 Covid Years) of George Bolt and the Catholic Bishop of Auckland's (Bishop Cleary) pioneering flight to Tauranga (from Auckland) on 12 March 1920. Their B & W (Boeing and Westervelt) flying-boat, which landed in Tauranga Harbour, offshore from The Strand, was the very first aircraft to be seen and to land in Tauranga. Bolt was delivering mail and Cleary was making Pastoral visits in Tauranga and also Whakatane and Opotiki. More significantly that that aircraft and the second B & W flying boat, were the very first aircraft ever built by William Boeing. Isn't it amazing that those two original Boeing aircraft were sold in New Zealand brand new! You can see why the Boeing Stearmans have been selected for this occasion.
The passenger on Classic Flyers Stearman will be George Bolt's grandson Peter Bolt of Cambridge. It had been hoped that Bishop Steve Lowe (current Catholic Bishop of Auckland) could have been included but unfortunately he is overseas. That is a real shame as he is one of New Zealand's most studious and fastidious aviation historians. Steve is a member of the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand and runs a blog 3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/
The Stearmans, to be flown by Willy Kay and Marty Cantlon, would be coming in from Whitianga, hopefully to arrive at the 1920 arrival time. Put this significant interesting event on your weekend calendar for Sunday morning and if interested, try to be at Classic Flyers soon after 10am with your camera.
Also I mention here that hopefully the Air Chathams DC-3 will be back doing local scenic flights on Saturday.
The passenger on Classic Flyers Stearman will be George Bolt's grandson Peter Bolt of Cambridge. It had been hoped that Bishop Steve Lowe (current Catholic Bishop of Auckland) could have been included but unfortunately he is overseas. That is a real shame as he is one of New Zealand's most studious and fastidious aviation historians. Steve is a member of the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand and runs a blog 3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/
The Stearmans, to be flown by Willy Kay and Marty Cantlon, would be coming in from Whitianga, hopefully to arrive at the 1920 arrival time. Put this significant interesting event on your weekend calendar for Sunday morning and if interested, try to be at Classic Flyers soon after 10am with your camera.
Also I mention here that hopefully the Air Chathams DC-3 will be back doing local scenic flights on Saturday.
