History:

David Percival Fisher was an engineer involved in early aviation experimentation in the Wellington region of New Zealand in the early 1900s, building his own design monoplane, with the help of Reginald Harry White, in 1912. The aircraft had been conveyed by rail over the Rimutakas to Pigeon Bush where it was placed in a woolshed pending attempted flight. The first flight was attempted on Christmas Day 1912 and the aircraft managed to become airborne but was damaged on landing. Other attempts were made to fly during the following weeks but the lack of experience on the part of the pilot did not help. Fisher and White regularly travelled to Pigeon Bush to attempt flight and on one occasion White is believed to have reached 91m (300 ft).

Because of the wind problems at the original site was found to be unsuitable and it was conveyed to Carterton to the farm of W H Booth Middlerun. This aircraft was flown at the Hurinui-O-Rangi Flats east of Carterton by Reginald White on 21 June 1913. This was the first aircraft to achieve flight in the Wairarapa, and the flight was one of the first recorded in New Zealand. Seven short flights were made on that day, and another 12 flights were made between 21 and 23 June and movie film was taken of at least one flight. Like a number of aeroplanes of the time, it was along the lines of a Bleriot XI II. In 2003 a one-fifth scale model of the monoplane was built and flown as part of commemorative events relating to 100 years of flight. A plaque to commemorate the flight was unveiled at the site in the Wairarapa with families of the pilot and builder present 90 years to the day after the first flight.

Further information:

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