New Zealand Flying School
Encyclopedia
Vivian Walsh (aviator)
Vivian Claude Walsh was an engineer. Vivian and his elder brother Leo Austin Walsh were pioneers of New Zealand aviation.Vivian and Leo built a British Howard Wright biplane, which Vivian first flew on 5 February 1911...
, to train pilots for the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. The school flew a fleet of home-built and imported flying boats from Mission Bay
Mission Bay, New Zealand
Mission Bay is a suburb of Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located seven kilometres to the east of the city centre, on the southern shore of the Waitemata Harbour. At the census of 2001, Mission Bay was reported to have a population of 5235.The Mission Bay district has been...
on Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
's Waitemata Harbour
Waitemata Harbour
The quite famous Waitemata Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. For this reason it is often referred to as Auckland Harbour, despite the fact that it is only one of two harbours surrounding the city, and is crossed by the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The Waitemata forms the north...
, near where a sculpture http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/arts/publicart/projects.asp#walsh now stands to commemorate the Walsh brothers. Over 100 pilots trained at the school, most of them going on to serve in the First World War, including ace Keith Caldwell
Keith Caldwell
Air Commodore Keith Logan "Grid" Caldwell CBE, MC, DFC & Bar was a New Zealand fighter ace of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I who also rose to the rank of Air Commodore in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II.-Early life:Born in Wellington, the son of David Robert Caldwell and...
.
The flying school was sold to the New Zealand Government in 1924 after struggling to survive after the end of the war.
On film
A 1993 documentary "Wings on the Waitemata" http://www.natlib.govt.nz/files/bibliography/NZNB-0505.pdf includes historical footage of the Walsh brothers' flying school.See also
- George BoltGeorge BoltGeorge Bruce Bolt OBE was a pioneering New Zealand aviator.He formed the Canterbury Aero Club in 1910, helping to make and fly gliders on the Cashmere hills...
- Keith CaldwellKeith CaldwellAir Commodore Keith Logan "Grid" Caldwell CBE, MC, DFC & Bar was a New Zealand fighter ace of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I who also rose to the rank of Air Commodore in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II.-Early life:Born in Wellington, the son of David Robert Caldwell and...
- Henry WigramHenry WigramSir Henry Francis Wigram was a British-born New Zealand businessman, politician and aviation promoter. He is best known for his role in developing a public transport system in Christchurch and as a key player in the establishment of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.-Early life and business:The son...
- Vivian Walsh (aviator)Vivian Walsh (aviator)Vivian Claude Walsh was an engineer. Vivian and his elder brother Leo Austin Walsh were pioneers of New Zealand aviation.Vivian and Leo built a British Howard Wright biplane, which Vivian first flew on 5 February 1911...
- Walsh Brothers Flying BoatsWalsh Brothers Flying BoatsThe Walsh Brothers Flying boats were World War I pilot training aircraft from New Zealand.-Walsh Brothers:Brothers Leo and Vivian Walsh built and flew a Howard Wright biplane in 1910 and flew it on 5 February 1911...