Country of origin:

New Zealand

Description:

Two-seat commercial flying-boat

Power Plant:

One 75 kw (100 hp) Hall-Scott A-7A four-cylinder in-line engine

Specifications:

History:

The brothers Leo Austin and Vivian Claude Walsh were interested in aviation from about 1910. At that time they purchased materials and built an aircraft which was completed and flown in 1911, but the aircraft was destroyed in an accident.  The brothers then decided to set about designing and building a flying-boat. Work commenced in August 1913 by building a shed in which to build the machine, construction taking place in their spare time.  Work was still in progress when the First World War broke out in Europe, the decision being made at that time to accelerate construction.  The brothers were of the view that the machine would play an important part in the war and devoted themselves entirely to the completion of the machine and handling trials needed to learn its operation.  They approached the New Zealand Government with a view to having some recognition made of their work.

In December 1914 the machine was ready for trials, and on 1 January 1915 the machine was launched at Bastion Point on Waitemata Harbour, Auckland, flown by Vivian Walsh. This was the first flying-boat to be built and flown in the southern hemisphere. Weather and minor problems with the machine delayed the testing for a short period but by 14 March 1915 the machine was operating successfully and on that day it was used to carry passengers.  At that time it was fitted with a 52 kw (70 hp) Anzani engine, this eventually being replaced by a 75 kw (100 hp) Hall-Scott A-7A unit.

The first Walsh Flying Boat, as it was known, was built along the lines of the series of flying boats designed and built by Glenn H Curtiss in the United States.  It was built and assembled at their home in Orakei Road, Remuera. The hull was constructed from cedar.  After transportation to the little bay west of Bastion Point the aircraft was kept in a makeshift hangar which was built of motorcar cases.  There it was re-assembled and flown, testing proving it to be successful. The brothers decided that it was capable of being used to train pilots.  Vivian Walsh by that time had taught himself to fly.

With this aircraft the Walsh brothers, with assistance from Mr R A Dexter, set up what became known as the New Zealand Flying School [Walsh Bros & Dexter Ltd] in October 1915 at Orakei, the aim being to train aviators for the Royal Flying Corps.  The NZ Government was approached for assistance but little was forthcoming.  However, it was ascertained from the United Kingdom that all suitable candidates qualifying for the Royal Aero Club’s Certificate in New Zealand would be offered commissions with the Royal Flying Corps.The Royal Aero Club also agreed to issue certificates to qualified pilots and suggested qualifying flights should be witnessed by military officers appointed by the New Zealand Government.  The school commenced with three instructors and twelve mechanics, and the first course comprised three pilots, all of whom were trained on the Walsh Flying Boat.

The brothers then leased an old mission site and constructed buildings at Mission Bay, living in a local cottage.  Groups of pilots were trained ranging in batches from 12 to 25 in number, each paying £100 ($200) for the course which included learning to fly and an engineering course.

Further aircraft were obtained for training, the second aircraft being a Caudron biplane fitted with a 45 kw (60 hp) Le Rhone rotary engine, floats for this being constructed at the Flying School. It was converted to ‘hydro-aeroplane’ configuration and used for initial training.  Next machine obtained was a Curtiss D flying boat fitted with a 67 kw (90 hp) Curtiss OX-5 engine and at that time two of the pupils joined the school to assist in the training work.  Because of distance, many spares and replacement parts were made in the school workshops in order to keep the aircraft flying.

As noted, Mr R A Dexter of Auckland was associated with the brothers and assisted considerably financially to make the Company a success. Through his help the Company became a limited liability company at the end of 1917.  With a good financial situation the Company went from strength to strength, building further workshops and obtaining supplies of spares, engines and construction material.

By the time of the Armistice the fleet of the school comprised two twin-float hydro-aeroplanes both fitted with 93 kw (125 hp) Hall-Scott A-5 six-cylinder engines; the original Walsh Flying Boat with a 75 kw (100 hp) Hall-Scott A-7A engine; a Walsh Flying Boat fitted with a 52 kw (70 hp) Anzani radial engine for solo flying; a Walsh Flying Boat fitted with a 75 kw (100 hp) Hall Scott A-7A four-cylinder engine; a Curtiss D flying boat with a 67 kw (90 hp) Curtiss OX-5 engine; and a further Walsh Flying Boat fitted with a 93 kw (125 hp) Hall Scott A-5 engine nearing completion, a total of seven seaplanes.

By 1918 a total of 110 pilots had been trained.  George Bolt played an important part in the Flying School, progressing from trainee mechanic to flying instructor.  The area was known as Kohimarama, the Flying School being at Mission Bay, which was part of the area, as was Orakei, which was close by.  The old mission building, which dated from the 1840s, still survives.  At that time both Leo and Vivian were members of the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain, and Vivian was the first New Zealander to hold a pilot’s licence issued by the Club.

In 1919 the authors of the noted tome, Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft, said of the Walsh Brothers venture ”Although the school is only on a small scale, it represents a considerable expenditure of energy and unremitting work in overcoming the many handicaps that have had to be surmounted, and no little credit is due to the members of the school staff, who have loyally and enthusiastically supported the founders in their efforts to promote aviation in this dominion generally, and in particular to aid in contributing to the winning of the War in the Air…In proportion to the numbers trained at this school, the progress as military aviators of ex-pupils has been a record of achievement, and all connected with the institution are naturally very proud of this fact.”

After World War I the flying school established itself as a commercial aviation venture, the fleet of aircraft being at this time three flying boats and two floatplanes.  The NZ Government then purchased six aircraft for the school, these being landplanes, and they were operated from a small section of the land that was leased, and also from the beach at Mission Bay.

Glenn Curtiss was noted for the development of water-borne aircraft of the period, he, after some experiments, making a flight from water in the Curtiss Model D aircraft on 26 January 1911.  Development continued through the Models E, F, and Seagull etc, two examples of the latter being operated in Australia and New Guinea in the 1920s as G-AUCU and G-AUCV.  In May 1916 the New Zealand Flying School placed an order for a Curtiss flying boat.  At that time, as noted, a second Walsh Flying Boat was under construction, and in the following months this latter machine commenced flight trials. Also at about that time construction of a third Walsh Flying Boat was commenced, this being completed in early 1917.

After World War I Leo Walsh and George Bolt began a mail delivery service, as well as what was probably one of the first charter type operations in New Zealand, transporting businessmen, doctors and fare paying passengers as far north as Hokianga, and as far south as Kawhia and Whakatane.  In 1924 the New Zealand Government purchased the flying school to train pilots for the developing Royal New Zealand Air Force and it was moved to Hobsonville Air Force base.

In New Zealand an organization known as the Vintage Aviation Foundation Trust was set up to construct a flying replica of the Model C Walsh Flying Boat, a copy of the Curtiss design, proposing to use an A-7A Hall-Scott engine on loan from the RNZAF Museum.  After completion the replica was expected to do some flying on and around Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf before being placed on display at the MOTAT Museum in Auckland.  However, it seems the replica has been put on hold for the time being due to the lack of availability of money and time.