Canterbury Aero Club
The objective of the Canterbury Aero Club was to foster interest in the science of aviation by encouraging those interested in aeroplanes and the construction of model flying machines. The Canterbury Aero Club existed prior to 21 August 1911 for on that date it was reported that members had been experimenting with model biplanes and monoplanes for some time with much success. It may have just have been formed, then. The club met on 21 Sept. 1911 to enroll new members. In December 1912, a women's section was formed.
The initial officers, elected in 1911, were Dr. Henry T. J. Thacker, president; A.A. (Frank) O'Connell, secretary; H. Newton, assistant secretary; Noah Jonassen, engineer; and William Lahman, auditor. Ms. Florence Hayward was first president of the women's section. In September 1911, Jonassen and O'Connell offered for inspection to club members, a full-sized monoplane that they were constructing. Inspired by Vivian Walsh's successful aeroplane flight on 5 Feb. 1911, club members Bolt and Wiillam Melville (Bill) Angus, both still teenagers, built a Chanute-type glider based on sketches in magazines and books, at least some, if not all, of which had been viewed at the library, that they were able to fly on 11 Dec. 1911.
Ewing and Macpherson appear to be in error that The Aero Club of Canterbury was formed in late 1909. Martyn is in error that it was formed in September 1911.
Sources
- New Zealand Herald, 21 Aug. 1911
- Star (Canterbury), 22 Sept. and 28 Oct. 1911
- New Zealand Aviation - 100 Years 8 (1972)
- Ewing and Macpherson, "History of New Zealand Aviation," 37 (1986)
- Martyn, "Passion for Flight, New Zealand Aviation Before the Great War " V.1, "Aero Clubs, Aeroplanes, Aviators and Aeronauts 1910-1914," 99-117, 283 (2013)
| Organization names | Canterbury Aero Club; Canterbury Aero Club of New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Entity type | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Canterbury |
| Affiliated with | |
| Scope | Local |
| Started aero | 1911 |
| Ended aero | 1964 or later |
| Keywords | |
| Key people | Henry T. J. Thacker, A.A. (Frank) O'Connell, H. Newton, Noah Jonassen, William Lahman, Florence Hayward, Bolt, Wiillam Melville (Bill) Angus |
| Wikidata id |
