History:

John Harley Gill of Dunedin, NZ, designed and built an aircraft in about 1909, work commencing at about that time in the foundry of Schlaadt Bros in Cumberland Street. Reports state an expert was brought from Colonel Cody’s facility in the United Kingdom to assist in the manufacture of the machine. A number of local people were involved in backing the construction. The design featured a number of unusual features, including a buoyancy balloon in the rear fuselage to provide floatation should it make a forced landing on water. It also incorporated a 17.65 m² (190 sq ft) parachute should the machine have an engine failure.

The machine was placed on display at the Otago A & P Society building at the 1910 Winter Show in May. On 6 August it was conveyed to Pelichet Bay and assembled. By 1 pm a crowd had gathered and the engine was started. However, the machine sank into the mud of the field and did not move, despite being pushed. Two of the four blades of the propeller were removed but the machine still refused to move. It was conveyed to Dunedin Gorge where a new propeller was installed and on 21 August when an attempt to fly was made an engine bearer buckled. In September that year the syndicate providing funds withdrew and no further attempts to fly were made.

Gill went on to build a further machine the following year, described in the press as a “new safety aeroplane” which “having fulfilled expectation, the rights have been disposed of to a large firm of English Aviators.”

Photograph: a sketch prepared by Mr J H Gill of his aircraft. (unknown)

Further information:

Information on this aircraft is currently limited. The Author welcomes any further specifications and/or details to update the site.