Vivian Walsh (aviator) explained

Vivian Walsh (aviator) should not be confused with Walsh brothers.

Vivian Claude Walsh (1888–1950)^[1] was a New Zealand engineer. Vivian and his English-born elder brother Austin Leonard (Leo) Walsh (1881–1951) were pioneers of New Zealand aviation.^{[2] [3]} The Walsh brothers were sons of immigrants from Yorkshire to New Zealand.^[4]

Vivian and Leo built a British Howard Wright biplane, which Vivian first flew on 5 February 1911. This was the first recognised powered flight made in New Zealand.^[5]

They established the New Zealand Flying School in 1915 to train pilots for the Royal Flying Corps, building their own series of flying boat trainers.

He made pioneering airmail, air passenger,^[6] and air survey flights, but was unable to make these commercially viable,^[7] and in 1924 he sold the New Zealand Flying School assets to the New Zealand Government, and gave up all involvement in aviation.^[1]

Vivian died in 1950, and Leo in 1951. The Auckland Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society, concerned to preserve the memory of the brothers' contribution, formed the Walsh Memorial Air Pageant Organisation. Several events raised significant monies for educational purposes - now administered via the New Zealand Aeronautical Trusts Ltd.^[8]

Other memorials include:

• A statue at Mission Bay to commemorate both Walsh brothers.
• The annual Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School run by the Scout Association of New Zealand.^[9]
• Walsh Memorial Library at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in Auckland.^[10]

See also

• Richard Pearse
• George Bolt
• Bert Pither

Notes and References

1. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3w3/walsh-austin-leonard R. L. Williams. 'Walsh, Austin Leonard and Walsh, Vivian Claude', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Apr-2014
2. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/walsh-leo-austin-and-walsh-vivian-claude WALSH, Leo Austin, and WALSH, Vivian Claude', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966.
3. http://www.raes.org.nz/index.cfm/NZAT/Vivian_and_Leo_Walsh Royal Aeronautical Society - New Zealand Division: Vivian and Leo Walsh
4. Book: John. La Roche . John La Roche . Evolving Auckland: The City's Engineering Heritage . 2011 . Wily Publications . Walsh Brothers Flying School . Colin . Zeff . 203-206 . 9781927167038.
5. http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/page/first-controlled-powered-flight-new-zealand New Zealand History: First controlled powered flight in New Zealand
6. http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Walsh%20Bros%20Avro.htm Wings Over Cambridge: The New Zealand Flying School's Avro 504
7. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/aviation/page-3 Peter Aimer. 'Aviation - An aviation industry', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 13-Jul-12
8. http://www.raes.org.nz/index.cfm/NZAT/History_of_NZAT Royal Aeronautical Society - New Zealand Division: History of NZAT
9. http://www.scouts.org.nz/Walsh Scouts New Zealand: Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School
10. http://www.motat.org.nz/collection/walsh-memorial-library/ MOTAT: WALSH MEMORIAL LIBRARY