Flying Training in NZ during WW1

In connection to my last post on flying training, I am related to Leo and Vivian Walsh who operated the Walsh Flying School at Kohimarama in Auckland, New Zealand. They operated their own design of flying boat and also THE first 2 Boeing aircraft built. The cheif instructor was George Bolt who was a pioneer of New Aviation. About 80% of the pilots they trained went on to be Scout pilots.

Does anyone have any info on the Walsh Flying School and also the Canterbury Flying School based in Christchurch during the same period.

I am also interested in other civillian operated flying schools throughout the empire during WW1.

[Rick]

Alfie,

There's a very charming lady named Judy Robinson who just happens to live in NZ who may very well be able to answer your questions. I do not know if she has access to the web, and thus I do not know of an e-mail address. Contact me off line if you would like her snail mail address. Perhaps you can drop her a line. Rick

Duiven@Yahoo.com

[jamo]

Hi Alfie
Sorry I don't know anything about the flying school, I just wanted to say Gidday Kiwi! I think you and I are the only forumites from our part of the world. Are you a modeller? I am, in 1/72. Do you live in Wellington?
Cheers
James

If by civilian, you mean non-military, I know of two in Oz.
The NSW State Aviation School was operated at Richmond by the NSW Govt. About 75 pilots got tickets.
In QLD, the Queensland Volunteer Flying Civilians was bankrolled by The Courier newspaper, and resulted in a total of 8.
The two original Boeings are allegedly buried inside a mountain tunnel in NZ.
Read up www.australianflyingcorps.org . for NSWSAS, and QVFC.

Hi Guys,

Thanx for your replys.

Rick, I will contact you offline for Judy's address. Much appreciated.

Gudday Jamo, good to know there is another Kiwi out there. I am presently living in Pomgolia but hail from Pukekohe near Auckland and will be returning to NZ in the next few months. Not an avid modeller anymore, but still build ocasionally when a particular model or aircraft catches my attention. Mainly 1/72 and also 1/48.

Hi Neville. Thanx for the info. I will see what else I can find out. I guess other states did similar as well. I guess the civvie flying schools in Australia were complementary because there was an established Flying Corp.

The Walsh and Canterbury flying schools were taken over by the NZ govt in 1923 with the establishment of the NZ Permanent Air Force. For some inexplicable reason some of the aircraft were burned on The beach at Kohimarama. Others, including at least 1 of the Boeings are believed to have been stored and forgotten [ and subsequently bricked up in the 50's]
in the tunnels on North Head. In the 90's a private expedition with some support from Boeing tried to find the relics. Unfortunately the team ran out of time and money before they found anything, but there is hope of another search. Heres Hoping!!!

Neville, are you by chance an ex Air New Zealand captain.

Many thanx guys for your help. Look forward to reading more from you

Ex NZ captain? No, an Ex-train driver.
NSW SAS, the CFS at Point Cook, and the QVFC are the only ones I know of. Might have been some brief activity in Western Australia by the Kalgoorie Aeroplane Syndicate about then, but nothing known.