c1919 Canterbury Aviation Company Chief Flying Instructor, Cecil Hill (rear seat) and (probably) the Engineer J Mackie in the Company-built aircraft at Sockburn Aerodrome, Christchurch, NZ, c1919.
Initially New Zealand's military pilots were trained at the 2 private flying schools situated at Kohimarama, a seaplane base in Auckland and Sockburn in Christchurch. Once trained these pilots invariably left for England to join the RAF.
The Canterbury Aviation Co.
Choice of Site for the Aerodrome
It may be thought that with the wide area of the Canterbury Plains from which to choose, there should have been no difficulty in selecting a good aerodrome. At least a dozen excellent sites were offered and inspected, but the difficulty of the problem lay in the desire of the Provisional Directors to select the best site possible, and one which could not be eclipsed by future rivals. They looked ahead to the time, after the war, when an aerodrome would be a practical necessity for every city the size of Christchurch, when the postal service would be carried by air, and private owners would want their hangars and aerodrome just as motorists now need a garage. Accessibility to the city would then become a point of primary importance. The site finally selected is under six miles from the centre of the city, and within a few minutes' walk of the electric trams and of a railway station (Sockburn). The site possesses other special advantages. It adjoins the Canterbury Park Trotting ground, which affords good landing ground in case of emergency and is not likely to be built over, and perhaps more important still, it is within reach of electric light and power supply from the Government installation at Lake Coleridge.
In May, 1916, Henry Wigram moved in the Legislative Council:- "That in view of the rapid development of the science of aerial navigation that has taken place in recent years, this Council suggests that the Government should establish a school or schools of flying in preparation for the formation of an aviation corps for purposes of national defence."
The Leader of the Council, the Hon. Sir Francis Bell, speaking on behalf of the Government, advised that the establishment of schools of aviation was not, a practical necessity of the moment, and his colleague (the Minister of Defence), with whom he agreed, thought that it could not then with advantage be undertaken by the Government. The Minister of Defence indicated that while the Government was not prepared to establish a South Island school, it had no objection to its being undertaken by private enterprise.
On August 26, 1916 the first meeting was held of the Provisional Board of the Canterbury Aviation Co. chaired by the Mayor of Christchurch and a large and influential Board of Directors was elected.
Aeroplane Fleet
One of the first acts of the Board of the Canterbury Aviation Co. had been to take over the contract entered into by the Chairman, Henry Wigram, for the purchase of two Cauldron Anzani aeroplanes and to order a third machine of the same make. The first machine to arrive, though not the first ordered, was a 60 h.p. dual-control, and after the first few flights it developed structural weakness in its engine, and had to go into dock for extensive repairs. While these repairs were being carried out, Mr Mackie set to work to build a plane for a 45 h.p. engine, originally imported by Lieut. Scotland, and afterwards purchased by the Company. The pupils all lent a hand at the building, and the new machine was flown by Mr. Hill on July 21. It was christened "White Wings" by the boys, and was a great success, all the pupils for the first few months taking their tickets on it. Mr Mackie came to us from the Auckland School at Kohimarama, where he had already established a reputation as a builder of aeroplanes. Since he has been with us he has built several more planes, which are not only cheaper than the imported models, but considerably lighter and possessing greater stability, so much so in fact, that we are now importing engines only, and building our own planes. Mr Mackie has been equally successful as a maker of propellers.
Flight Instructor
Mr C.M. Hill, who had been chief instructor in the Hall Flying School, at Hendon, England, was appointed as Canterbury Aviation Co. instructor, and arrived in Christchurch on May 3, 1917, about a fortnight after the first machine had been delivered.
WIGRAM AERODROME.
MANAWATU TIMES, VOLUME XLVI, ISSUE 2687, 3 JULY 1923, PAGE 5
WIGRAM AERODROME COMPLIMENT TO PIONEER IN NEW ZEALAND AVIATION.
[Per Press Association.]
CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night.
As a compliment to the Hon. H. F. Wigram, the Government has decided to rename the Sockburn aerodrome the Wigram aerodrome. Mr Wigram, chairman of the Canterbury Aviation Company, made a gift of £10,000 to the Government towards the purchase price of the aerodrome, and its new name is in recognition of this fact, as well as of Mr Wigram's valuable pioneering work in aviation in New Zealand.
The first 100 pilots, by Henry Wigram
christchurchcitylibraries.com/DigitalCollection/Publicati...
Source credit: Photo Image No: WgG5010-75
Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Some Rights Reserved
c1919 Canterbury Aviation Company Chief Flying Instructor, Cecil Hill (rear seat) and (probably) the Engineer J Mackie in the Company-built aircraft at Sockburn Aerodrome, Christchurch, NZ, c1919.
Initially New Zealand's military pilots were trained at the 2 private flying schools situated at Kohimarama, a seaplane base in Auckland and Sockburn in Christchurch. Once trained these pilots invariably left for England to join the RAF.
The Canterbury Aviation Co.
Choice of Site for the Aerodrome
It may be thought that with the wide area of the Canterbury Plains from which to choose, there should have been no difficulty in selecting a good aerodrome. At least a dozen excellent sites were offered and inspected, but the difficulty of the problem lay in the desire of the Provisional Directors to select the best site possible, and one which could not be eclipsed by future rivals. They looked ahead to the time, after the war, when an aerodrome would be a practical necessity for every city the size of Christchurch, when the postal service would be carried by air, and private owners would want their hangars and aerodrome just as motorists now need a garage. Accessibility to the city would then become a point of primary importance. The site finally selected is under six miles from the centre of the city, and within a few minutes' walk of the electric trams and of a railway station (Sockburn). The site possesses other special advantages. It adjoins the Canterbury Park Trotting ground, which affords good landing ground in case of emergency and is not likely to be built over, and perhaps more important still, it is within reach of electric light and power supply from the Government installation at Lake Coleridge.
In May, 1916, Henry Wigram moved in the Legislative Council:- "That in view of the rapid development of the science of aerial navigation that has taken place in recent years, this Council suggests that the Government should establish a school or schools of flying in preparation for the formation of an aviation corps for purposes of national defence."
The Leader of the Council, the Hon. Sir Francis Bell, speaking on behalf of the Government, advised that the establishment of schools of aviation was not, a practical necessity of the moment, and his colleague (the Minister of Defence), with whom he agreed, thought that it could not then with advantage be undertaken by the Government. The Minister of Defence indicated that while the Government was not prepared to establish a South Island school, it had no objection to its being undertaken by private enterprise.
On August 26, 1916 the first meeting was held of the Provisional Board of the Canterbury Aviation Co. chaired by the Mayor of Christchurch and a large and influential Board of Directors was elected.
Aeroplane Fleet
One of the first acts of the Board of the Canterbury Aviation Co. had been to take over the contract entered into by the Chairman, Henry Wigram, for the purchase of two Cauldron Anzani aeroplanes and to order a third machine of the same make. The first machine to arrive, though not the first ordered, was a 60 h.p. dual-control, and after the first few flights it developed structural weakness in its engine, and had to go into dock for extensive repairs. While these repairs were being carried out, Mr Mackie set to work to build a plane for a 45 h.p. engine, originally imported by Lieut. Scotland, and afterwards purchased by the Company. The pupils all lent a hand at the building, and the new machine was flown by Mr. Hill on July 21. It was christened "White Wings" by the boys, and was a great success, all the pupils for the first few months taking their tickets on it. Mr Mackie came to us from the Auckland School at Kohimarama, where he had already established a reputation as a builder of aeroplanes. Since he has been with us he has built several more planes, which are not only cheaper than the imported models, but considerably lighter and possessing greater stability, so much so in fact, that we are now importing engines only, and building our own planes. Mr Mackie has been equally successful as a maker of propellers.
Flight Instructor
Mr C.M. Hill, who had been chief instructor in the Hall Flying School, at Hendon, England, was appointed as Canterbury Aviation Co. instructor, and arrived in Christchurch on May 3, 1917, about a fortnight after the first machine had been delivered.
WIGRAM AERODROME.
MANAWATU TIMES, VOLUME XLVI, ISSUE 2687, 3 JULY 1923, PAGE 5
WIGRAM AERODROME COMPLIMENT TO PIONEER IN NEW ZEALAND AVIATION.
[Per Press Association.]
CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night.
As a compliment to the Hon. H. F. Wigram, the Government has decided to rename the Sockburn aerodrome the Wigram aerodrome. Mr Wigram, chairman of the Canterbury Aviation Company, made a gift of £10,000 to the Government towards the purchase price of the aerodrome, and its new name is in recognition of this fact, as well as of Mr Wigram's valuable pioneering work in aviation in New Zealand.
The first 100 pilots, by Henry Wigram
christchurchcitylibraries.com/DigitalCollection/Publicati...
Source credit: Photo Image No: WgG5010-75
Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Some Rights Reserved