Author(s): Errol W. Martyn

NZ Aviation | Secondhand

Volume One: Ideas, first flight attempts and the aeronauts 1868-1909. Volplane Press in association with the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand is proud to announce publication of the first volume of Errol Martyn's new trilogy - A Passion for Flight, a history of New Zealand aviation before the Great War of 1914-1918. This definitive work presents for the first time a detailed record of all known New Zealand-related aeronautical activity of the long-neglected pioneering period of 1868-1914. The complete trilogy will undoubtedly become an indispensible first place of resource for historians, aviation enthusiasts and genealogists alike. The 184-page first volume takes the story up to 1909. It includes eye-witness accounts and over 100 illustrations, many of which are published for the first time. There is comprehensive coverage of the daring balloonists and parachutists - aeronauts both local and from abroad (including fascinating American sisters Millie Viola and Leila Adair) - the first people to be seen in New Zealand skies. One of the New Zealanders, in a balloon of his own design, established the country's first duration and cross-country flight records. All known patents, flying machines - designed, constructed or trialled - aerial events and the personnel involved are described in detail. (It is generally not realised that some 70 patents were applied for and more than 30 gliders or aeroplanes were completed or begun in New Zealand by 1914.) The final chapter also puts to rest once and for all the controversial claims made for Richard Pearse as having flown before the American Wright brothers. It brings to light new information about him and his flights attempts that has been overlooked by previous researchers. Included is a lengthy and enlightening interview with the inventor himself! Four appendices, over 400 footnotes and a comprehensive index complete the book.

Volume Two: Aero Clubs, Aeroplanes, Aviators and Aeronauts 1910-1914. Whereas it took only a 184-page first volume to cover the previous four decades this volume's coverage of just five years runs to 320 pages, such was the astonishing growth of interest and participation during the period. The author brings to light much new material through eyewitness accounts and extensive research of primary sources. He also corrects a number of long-standing errors in previous accounts, particularly regarding the Walsh brothers' trials and tribulations with the Howard Wright biplane (later christened Manurewa No.1) that was imported by the syndicate of which they were members. Accompanying the text is an amazing collection of over 280 illustrations, many of which appear here in print or are displayed and captioned in their correct context for the first time. The trilogy's concluding volume will cover the Joe Hammond story and military aviation for the 1910-1914 period.

Volume Three: The military aspect. Also presented for the first time is a full and long overdue account of the remarkable career of Feilding-born Joseph Joel (‘Joe’) Hammond, the most prominent and successful New Zealand aviator of the period but who is now largely forgotten. Hammond was the first British Colonial to obtain an aviator’s certificate. He made pioneering flights in Australia, including the first military-related flights there, was an early member of the Royal Flying Corps, a flying instructor, test pilot, and a member of the British Aviation Mission to the USA in 1918. Of the New Zealand inventors who began to turn their attention to aircraft for military purposes, the most remarkable was undoubtedly electrical engineer Alban Roberts. His experiments with remote control devices for torpedoes and aeroplanes are also described, as are his two airships, one built in England and the other in Australia. A detailed account of New Zealand’s pre-war approach to military aviation development explains why a cautious policy was adopted and how progress was limited in large part by the government’s 1909 decision to create a large territorial force and to introduce compulsory military training. Also recorded are those New Zealanders who learned to fly abroad while serving with the British or Indian armies. The depth of research undertaken for A Passion for Flight can be gauged by the fact that the complete trilogy runs to over 700 pages and includes a remarkable collection of more than 500 illustrations. Such is the extent of this hitherto largely unrecognised contribution to our aviation history.

Very good copies.