Vivian Claude Walsh was an engineer. Vivian and his elder brother Leo Austin Walsh (1881–1951) were pioneers of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 aviation.

Vivian and Leo built a British Howard Wright biplane, which Vivian first flew on 5 February 1911. They established the New Zealand Flying School

New Zealand Flying School

The New Zealand Flying School was formed in 1915, by the Walsh Brothers, Leo and Vivian, to train pilots for the Royal Flying Corps. The school flew a fleet of home-built and imported flying boats from Mission Bay on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, near where a sculpture now stands to commemorate...

 in 1915 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...

, building their own series of flying boat trainers

Walsh Brothers Flying Boats

The 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...

.

He made pioneering airmail, air passenger and air survey flights, but was unable to make these commercially viable, and in 1924 he sold the New Zealand Flying School

New Zealand Flying School

The New Zealand Flying School was formed in 1915, by the Walsh Brothers, Leo and Vivian, to train pilots for the Royal Flying Corps. The school flew a fleet of home-built and imported flying boats from Mission Bay on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, near where a sculpture now stands to commemorate...

 assets to the New Zealand government, and gave up all involvement in aviation.

Vivian died in 1950, and Leo in 1951. The Auckland Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society, concerned to preserve the memory of the brothers' contribution, formed the Walsh Memorial Air Pageant Organisation. Several events raised significant monies for educational purposes - now administerd via the New Zealand Aeronautical Trusts Ltd http://www.raes.org.nz/index.cfm/NZAT/History_of_NZAT.

Other memorials include:

• A statue http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/arts/publicart/projects.asp#walsh at 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...
  
   to commemorate both Walsh brothers.
• The annual Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School http://www.scouts.org.nz/sanz/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.16 run by the Scout Association of New Zealand.
• Walsh Memorial Library at the Museum of Transport and Technology
  Museum of Transport and Technology
  The Museum of Transport and Technology is a museum located in Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand. It is located close to the Western Springs Stadium, Auckland Zoo and the Western Springs Park. The museum has large collections of civilian and military aircraft and other land transport vehicles...
  
   (MOTAT) in 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...
  
  .