Link to
History of the Napier Aero Club |
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Link to
History of the Wairoa Aero Club |
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Early days of HB & East
Coast Aero Club,
Bridge Pa, Hastings. Clubhouse in the
background. |
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The first
registered Aero Club aircraft to fly in
New Zealand.
Purchased in 1929 by the Hastings Aero
Club.Pictured
is Guy Field, one of the first Hawke's
Bay men
to fly powered aircraft.
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2nd.July 1932.
Some of the crowd at the official opening
of the Napier Aerodrome. |
HB Aero
Club hangar, Wairoa.
1930s. ZK-AAU inside.
Now known as Bill Cookson's hangar.
Any more
info from our Wairoa folk? |
Jean Batten
visited Napier
during the inter-war period
and joined the Napier Aero Club. |
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A Scouts Combined Flying
Camp. Bridge Pa Aerodrome January 1988
The Scouts came from all over New Zealand.
We have no names so far.
Can any of you “young at the time “
Scouts - on the web provide some names ? |
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Bridge Pa
again, January 1988
“Two Young future Air New Zealand
pilots.”Cyril
Whitaker keeping an eye on things.
No names of the
lads? Can anyone?
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Number
11 Squadron Hastings ATC CadetsBridge Pa
1944
Names ? |
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We've
had an error pointed out to us regarding
the gentleman standing in front
of the hangared Klemm Eagle. It is not
JACK ALLAN.
Since we're working with events that
happened over 70 years' ago,
we can only rely on feedback from our
internet visitors to put things right.
We welcome such input from our readers.In
the meantime, we're attempting to trace a
photo of Jack, and a little more detail
of his Wairoa links to his interest in
aviation, (another error was that he was
Australian, not an Englishman as we were
told originally).
This photo was with
Arnold Wright's collection - we're trying
to discover
who the gentleman is, along with date.
Subject open for debate.
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Jack
had his own aircraft - a DH 60 Moth
ZK-AEJ.
For a time, it was one of a collection of
vintage aircraft at Manderville Gore,
in the South Island - and was Temple
Martin's last restoration job.Owned
now by Gerald
Grocott,
(pictured right), of
Napier.
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Its
new home is at Hawke's Bay Airport and
sometimes makes public appearances over
Napier & Hastings.
This aircraft has
quite a history. We will be adding more
as we trace its path from Jack Allan's
ownership. |
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A
quick snap of ZK-AEJ at Bridge Pa on one
of its 'days out'
at the opening of the Hawke's Bay Aero
Club's new club premises. |
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The plane
in this photo is a British Klemm Eagle -
"Zealandia" - and belonged to
Pat O'Hara,
who flew it to Australia in 1935.
From what we can gather, it crashed in
Java, Indonesia, and Pat was killed. |
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| Below are some 'visitors' to
Napier during the inter-war period. |
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ZK-ADE The
'stagger wing' Waco on the
Embankment Aerodrome. Mid 30s.
On trial by the HB Hospital Board
as an air-ambulance, an
alternative to
vehicle transport of patients to
Wellington hospital for
specialist treatment.
Sadly, the cost proved too high,
so the idea was shelved. |
ZK-ADE
refuelling for the return to
Wellington.
Pilot George Bolt on the
pump. |
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ZK-ADE on
another visit to the Embankment
Drome where, perhaps,
an air taxi service was on trial.
The Waco had a different colour
scheme
on this trip. Note one of
Napier's white Star Taxis on
standby.
Info anyone?? |
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"Faith In
Australia" VH-UXX (Avro 10)
on a visit to Napier Dec. 7th - 9th.1933.
Visited Bridge Pa, Hastings, Jan.25th -
28th 1934.
Pilot Charles
Ulm. |
 "Faith
In Australia" dressed for overnight
on the Embankment Drome.
8th.Dec.1933.
The little boy will be over
70 now.
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| The
SOUTHERN CROSS Visit to Hawkes Bay |
Saturday
21st. January 1933.
(CLICK PICTURE FOR
MORE) |
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The
Napier Aero Club celebrated its 75th
Anniversary,
(February 2006), of its official
registrationas an Aero Club.
One of the events was a dinner, with
official guests:
Mr. Bryan Cox, (a well-known author and
airforce historian),
and Mr. Stan Smith, (from Smith's Tech -
Air New Zealand).
PHOTOS
HERE |
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We had a large
collection of photos passed on to us covering the
HB & EC Aero Club’s early days.
From what we understand they are from the late
Joe Dean and Guy Field collection’s. |
A very
historic Photo of Kingsford Smith
on a visit to Bridge
Pa January 1933 |
'Ready to
roll' A great shot of
ZK ABF |
Early photo
of an 'unfortunate'
( looks to be in a turnip pach ! ? ) |
This is an interesting shot early 1930s
Note the Airforce aircraft, |
Guy Field and Ian Gordon with ZK AAB -
date? |
Piet van Asch and friend ( to be
ID'd )
Bridge Pa - date ? |
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