Aviation - Liz Davidson Place
Aviation and agricultural history was made in Marlborough, when in 1906 John Clervaux Chaytor floated above his Marlborough sheep farm in a hot air balloon throwing fistfuls of grass seed into the air. This action is thought to have been the first aerial seed sowing in the world.
History around Aviation in Marlborough;
On August 25, 1920, Euan Dickson, one of the most successful Allied bomber pilots of the First World War, made history when he crossed the Cook Strait for the first time in his Avro 504K.
Canterbury Aviation Company engaged pilot Dickson to survey the route between Christchurch and Wellington, identifying suitable landing grounds and refuelling points, to prove that mail and passenger services could be undertaken safely. It hoped to win government support for the establishment of commercial services and secure itself a regular income.
The journey from Christchurch to Wellington took just over 7 hours, with a flying time of 4 hours 40 minutes. Dickson, who had served as a bomber pilot in the First World War, commented that the trip was ‘more difficult’ than crossing the English Channel.
Three days later Dickson and Moore began their return journey – the first from north to south across Cook Strait. They spent a few days in Blenheim, where a large crowd greeted them. Here Dickson took nearly 200 people on joy rides before returning to Christchurch on 6 September.
Five months after Dickson’s inaugural flight, the government’s Air Board directed the Canterbury Aviation Company to begin an airmail service from Christchurch to Ashburton and Timaru. However, this failed to attract the custom it needed to make a profit and the Air Board closed it down three months later.
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
A resurgence of interest in heritage aviation took place in Marlborough when a group of enthusiasts imported two Chinese Nanchang trainers and established the Marlborough Warbirds Association in the late 1990’s setting off a chain reaction leading to the now world renowned Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.
Winning global acclaim for its exhibitions – Knight’s of the Skies, which displays Sir Peter Jackson’s collection of WWI aircraft brought to life in dramatic scenes designed by Wingnut Films and Weta Workshop, and Dangerous Skies, with its WWII aircraft and battle scenes.
A visit to Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre has to be high on the list of must-do’s in Blenheim!
RNZAF Base at Woodbourne
After being a military and civil landing ground for some years, RNZAF Station Woodbourne was established for the Air Force just before World War 2 and was designed as an operational station as well as a flying training facility. At it’s peak in the early 1940’s over 9,000 men & women were based at ‘Delta Camp’ – over twice the population of Blenheim at the time.
RNZAF Base Woodbourne remains today as a training and heavy maintenance facility, and shares the airport with civilian services, including Airbus.