Like most good ideas, this one started in the bar, in this case the Airline Flying Club’s after an enjoyable day’s flying, when somebody mentioned that the 75th anniversary of Jean Batten’s England–New Zealand record-breaking flight was imminent.
Three-quarters of a century ago, New Zealand gave Jean the sort of welcome that America provides its astronauts and pop stars today. Thousands of her countrymen came by bicycle, car, horse-drawn carriage or on foot to welcome this 26-year-old when she touched down at Mangere (Auckland) aerodrome in October 1936, for Jean Batten was then one of the world’s pioneer aviators.
Australia had Kingsford-Smith, America had Charles Lindberg, Great Britain had Alcock and Brown, and this remarkable young New Zealand aviatrix had equalled them all.
“Pity we couldn’t resurrect her Percival Gull hanging in the international air terminal,” lamented John Geary, a Percival aficionado. Everybody agreed something should be done to recognise the achievements of a New Zealand aviation icon, but what? And how?
The idea festered in my head until finally I phoned the Auckland International Airport executive offices to enquire whether they had plans to commemorate the achievements of the airport terminal’s namesake. Katie Moore, the CEO’s executive assistant, was very helpful but wasn’t aware of any plans for a reception or dinner, although she kindly offered to show us the recently refurbished Jean Batten display in the terminal.
Calls to MOTAT and the Auckland War Memorial Museum were also unproductive, so I decided nothing further could be done and went back to watching the Rugby World Cup.
But conscience is a dreadful thing, and eventually I realised something had to be done to recognise this moment in our history. The obvious answer seemed to be a flypast along the City of Auckland’s waterfront by an aerial flotilla of aircraft of that era — de Havilland Moths, Miles Hawks, Beech Staggerwings, Avro Tutors and anything else available. International attention for the Rugby World Cup would assure an audience.
I floated the idea past a few vintage aircraft owners like Lee Middleton (DH Gipsy Moth), Jan White (Tiger Moth), John Pheasant (another Tiger), Stan Smith (Moth Minor, Dragon, Fox Moth, Tiger Moth), John King (aviation author/photographer), Andrew Hope (Miles Messenger) and Paul Doherty (Tiger Moth), and was surprised by the enthusiastic reaction.
“Where do you want me and when?” Stan Smith’s question typified everybody’s enthusiastic reaction to the idea.
With the help of a friendly CAA official who advised us how to structure the occasion to avoid it being classed as an aeronautical event, we went ahead with the planning. The most attractive and simple idea seemed to be a small formation of five aeroplanes flying along the Auckland waterfront, departing Ardmore and forming up over the Wairoa River mouth east of Clevedon to follow the coastline to Maraetai, Howick, Eastern Beach, Musick Point, St Heliers, Mission Bay, the Viaduct Basin, Point Chevalier, Henderson and Te Atatu, all at 500ft.
Did I say simple? I had forgotten the intense enthusiasm of vintage aviators, for a constant flow of emails arrived in my inbox hourly. Edith Robinson from the NZAWA wanted details, as did NZ Warbirds, TV One, Pacific Wings magazine and a long list of private owners, aero modellers, aviation historians, dentists, builders, ministers of religion, museums, doctors, newspapers and others too numerous to mention. Now the problem was how to satisfy everybody.
Initially we decided on the five-aeroplane formation with a DH Dragon leading a Fox and Gipsy Moth with Stan Smith’s Moth Minor trailing the flock behind a Tiger Moth.
Plans had to constantly change when some of these old machines developed technical problems. Lee Middleton’s Gipsy Moth didn’t have a current CofA, then Stan’s Moth Minor developed oil pressure problems, leaving us with his Dragon and Fox Moth plus three Tigers and a Messenger.
But something was still lacking to add glitter to the occasion, for a formation of small aeroplanes out to sea needed something to lead it, like the Southern Cross, or maybe Doug Brooker’s Spitfire or whaddabout a Mustang?
“Mustangs and Spitfires weren’t around then,” Jim Lawson (Chipmunk) reminded us.
“How about the DC3?” I suggested, whereupon everybody ganged up on me.
“Buy a blonde wig and white flying suit and come along as Jean Batten in your Proctor!” Jan White suggested. I quickly dismissed the blonde wig idea but readily agreed to John Gemmell leading the parade in Mk I Proctor ZK-DPP.
The anniversary date of 16 October was a Sunday, coinciding with the RWC semi-final match between New Zealand and Australia, so that date was set. After lunch seemed to be the best time as there would be little to entertain the thousands of rugby supporters waiting around for the evening game.
So many emails later, seven aeroplanes congregated outside Paul Doherty’s Ardmore hangar to listen to a briefing on what was supposed to happen.
Aeroplanes would take off from Ardmore and form up over the Wairoa River mouth to the east. Jean Batten’s Percival Gull … er, sorry, my Percival Proctor … would then lead them at 500ft along the coastline towards Musick Point, where they would orbit until just before 2pm to fly abeam the Viaduct Basin at two o’clock sharp.
All very simple, eh? Except that circumstances and weather had prevented us having a dress rehearsal before anniversary day.
This was when we recognised there would be a problem with a 75kt Tiger or Dragon formating on a 145kt Percival Proctor. OK then, why can’t the Proctor slow down to say 70kt?
Good idea — crank on full flap, apply a bit of power and stagger along at 500ft on the back side of the drag curve 10kt above stall speed. Rate one turns would be interesting at that airspeed with the combination of turbulence and stick shaker (pilot’s trembling hands) making for an interesting ride!
Well, it didn’t work out exactly as we’d hoped. Stan Smith complained we were too slow, then the Tigers and Fox Moth said they couldn’t keep up, and the challenge of orbiting Musick Point just above stall speed was another good reason to increase speed a few knots (like 25 or 30!), which was why we arrived everywhere ahead of flight plan. But at least everybody saw us honouring a great New Zealander who was in danger of disappearing into obscurity.
And we’re going to repeat it in 25 years’ time for her hundredth anniversary. Briefing will be at the same time and place at Ardmore.
Want to come along? We’ll all be there again with our aircraft, so if you can’t bring a plane there will be plenty of passenger seats available!
- Report by Guy Clapshaw and photographs by Gavin Conroy