Planes of Palmy

Violet Hibbard (at right) accompanied Captain R Russell on the first flight to land in Palmerston North, 31 July 1920, at the age of 15 years. The flight was re-enacted in 1970 for the Palmerston North Centennial celebrations. This flight was piloted by J J Mackie of Hastings, in his Tiger Moth built 1945, and took 30 minutes. Accompanying them is the 6 bouquets of flowers that Violet Hibbard was to drop over Woodville and Palmerston North, as she did on the first flight.

Only one M-3B Falcon Major, pictured here, was registered in New Zealand. It crashed at Rongotai Airport, Wellington, 19 February 1936, killing its pilot, Squadron Leader M C McGregor of Palmerstson North. Union Airways was a subsidary of the Union Steamship Company, which started flying out of Palmerston North in 1936, using DH86 airliners. Union Airways later amalgamated and became the National Airways Corporation of New Zealand

Captain Russell, DFC & Croix de Guerre, (right) was the pilot of the Walsh Brothers DH6 which travelled around New Zealand promoting air travel and taking people for 'joy rides'. H E Hibbard (left), of Dannevirke, was the first person to have a "joy-ride" in the plane during its stay at Dannevirke. His daugher, Violet Hibbard, was the passenger in the flight from Dannevirke to Palmerston North on 31 July, 1920. The Walsh Brothers aeroplane was the first plane to land in Palmerston North.

The Walsh Brothers DH6 aircraft, piloted by 23 year old Captain Richard Russell toured the North Island promoting air travel and taking passengers for 'joy rides'. The plane flew from Dannevirke Racecourse, with Captain R Russell and 15 year old Violet Hibbard of Dannevirke as passenger, and became the first plane to land in Palmerston North after a 30 minute flight. The large building on the left is the "Tote" at the racecourse.

Thought to be the occasion of the air pageant held to mark the inauguration of Union Airways commercial service from Palmerston North 15 January 1936. ZK-ADE (nearest) was owned by the Manawatu Aero Club. Other planes from left: Vickers Vildebeste; NZAF Bomber; NZAF Bomber; ZK-ABY; NZAF Bomber. The NZAF bombers are AVRO 626 aircraft, used for pilot/ observer training and were based at RNZAF Wigram.

This aircraft, a Miles M2H Hawk Major, was flown by Squadron Leader McGregor and H G Walker in the London to Melbourne Air Race in 1934. They were sponsored by the Manawatu Air Race Committee. After the race the pilots made exhibition flights in the plane, named 'Manawatu', throughout New Zealand. McGregor is in the rear cockpit with Walker in the front.

The "Miles Hawk" ZK-AEQ, a training aircaft owned by the Manawatu Aero Club, stands outside the first hangar at Milson Aerodrome, Palmerston North.

A photograph in the same set as this was published September 1928 in the Manawatu Daily Times over the news heading "Steering a Plane". The caption underneath reads, "The Southern Cross at Sockburn - a photograph specially taken showing the huge wing-spread of the airplane which carried Kingsford-Smith and his companions to success in the trans-Tasman flight". The Southern Cross, piloted by Kingsford Smith, also landed in Palmerston North in 1933.

Douglas DC-3 ZK-APA aircraft [Puweto], thought to have been taken at Milson Airport, with the Royal Mail insignia panted near the cockpit.This aircraft served with the RNZAF as NZ3555 from 20 August 1945 and was re-registered as a civilian aircraft on 28 April 1947 and given the name Puweto.

This photograph shows the damaged "Southern Cross" when it landed at Milson Airport, Palmerston North. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and crew of the 'Southern Cross', a Fokker F. VII Trimotor aircraft, were delayed in Palmerston North for several weeks after the aeroplane's wing was damaged during taxiing 4 February 1933. The left wing sank axle-deep in a boggy patch of ground. The left wing and port propellor were damaged, taking several weeks to be repaired. Kingsford-Smith left for Sydney a few days later in the "Makura" for a much needed holiday.

The National Airways Corporation aeroplane ZK-APB ‘Popotea’, made by the Douglas Aircraft Co. (US), sits on the grass at what is thought to be Milson Airport. ZK-APB was the first NAC DC-3 to be properly fitted out as an airliner, rather than just an ex-military transport with basic seating. It was Ex-NZ3534 and left military service on 28 April 1947. It was flown to Melbourne to be refitted and to be renamed Popotea. It became a National Airways Corporation airliner DC-3D on 9 September 1947.

Aroha Clifford was the first pilot trained by the Canterbury Aero Club in 1928. She may have been New Zealand’s first woman pilot.

People looking at a DH 89 Dragon Rapide (ZH-ACO) named ‘Tainui’ anchored on the grass at Milson Aerodrome, Palmerston North. The aircraft had competed in the England – Australia Melbourne Centenary Air Race after which it flew on to New Zealand and landed in Palmerston North. The plane was flown by three New Zealanders: Squadron Leader J D Hewitt, Flying Officer C E Kay and F Stewart.

Taking to the air is Darby West, test piloting Alexander Radford's home built plane, a modified version of the American Lincoln Sports 1921, at Milson Airport. See Manawatu Evening Standard 23 May 1975, p 10-11 for more information.

Darby (David) West was the son of Palmerston North architect and aviator, Ernst West. Darby died 23rd February 1942, while serving as a pilot in WWII.

The 'Southern Cross', flown by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and crew, shortly before its departure from Milson Aerodrome. The Fokker F. VII Trimotor aircraft was delayed in Palmerston North for several weeks after its wing was damaged during taxiing at the Milson Aerodrome 4 February 1933.