First flight & air mail across Cook Strait on 25 August 1920
A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa
On 25 August 1920, the Canterbury (NZ) Aviation Company flew an airplane across the Cook Strait, creating a new era in aviation and in the delivery of mail between the North and South Islands.
Captain Euan Dickson of the Canterbury Aviation Co. completed the first air crossing of Cook Strait on 25 August 1920
Flew 110-hp Le Rhone Avro from Christchurch to Trentham in Upper Hutt with first air mail between South & North Islands
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
It was a race to be first!
In 1916, Canterbury (NZ) Aviation Company was established to train pilots & promote military & commercial aviation
An airbase was built at Sockburn in Christchurch. (Photo: Instructors, pupils & ground crew are carrying out training)
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Competition loomed from the New Zealand Flying School (NZFS) which was established in Auckland in 1915
MOTAT
In 1920, NZFS was looking at flying to Nelson & Marlborough, & their pilot arrived in Wellington on 20 August
NZFS pilot Russell was to meet with pilot Bolt who was delivering an Avro 504K by rail on 24 Aug
Air Force Museum of New Zealand
NZFS's pilot George Bolt had made first experimental mail flight from Auckland to Dargaville in 1919
Bolt made further mail flights to Thames & Whangārei the following year
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
The Canterbury Aviation Company decided to expand its operations by beating the NZFS in crossing the Cook Strait
The Company urgently arranged for their Chief Pilot, WWI veteran Captain Euan Dickson to fly to Wellington
MOTAT
Dickson's flight departed 7am on 25 Aug from Sockburn & arrived 2.10pm at Trentham Racecourse
3 stops en route: Kahutara River Flats (unscheduled fuel stop due to gusty wind depleting fuel), Kaikōura & Blenheim
National Library of New Zealand
Also on board: C.H. Hewlett (Deputy Chairman, Henry Wigram’s Canterbury Aviation Co.) & J.E. Moore (Chief mechanic)
Company wanted to survey suitable landing & refuelling places for mail & commercial passenger services
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
An account of the plane arriving at Kaikōura & the weather conditions was given in the Marlborough Express
National Library of New Zealand
Members of the public & MPs arriving for a Parliamentary meeting viewed the plane as it flew over Wellington
An account of the flight by Dickson was reported by the Evening Post (26 Aug)
National Library of New Zealand
In House of Representatives, Mr Glenn asked if it was true that Capt Dickson had arrived by aeroplane
Govt had not been notified beforehand, but the PM "understood it was a fact". Ministers sent congratulatory telegrams.
National Library of New Zealand
New air record proclaimed across Cook St. Flying time "about four hours & 20 minutes" & highest altitude was 6000 feet
(According to Airforce Museum's website, the flying time was 4 hours & 57 minutes)
National Library of New Zealand
A crowd was photographed standing next to the plan after it landed at the Trentham racecourse
The flight over the Cook Strait from Blenheim (departed 11.55am) to Trentham (arrived 1.10pm) took 75 mins
Upper Hutt City Library
Mr D. C. Bates, Director of Meteorological Office, stated knowledge of meteorology necessary for Cook Strait flights
National Library of New Zealand
Three days later (28 Aug), Dickson & Moore flew their return journey – the first from north to south across Cook Strait
Left Trentham at 3.10pm & flew to Blenheim in record time - 65 mins (10 mins less than flight to Wellington)
National Library of New Zealand
Dickson describes the offical farewell from Trentham and the official welcome at Blenheim
National Library of New Zealand
Dickson brought mail from Wellington with the words "Aerial Post" stamped on the envelopes, to testify route taken
National Library of New Zealand
Dickson & Moore were honorary guests of Marlborough Garage Proprietors' Assoc on 31 Aug 1920
Dickson recounted being a WWI pilot & returning to NZ where he became involved in the aviation industry
National Library of New Zealand
When staying in Blenheim for 3 days, Dickson took "about 250 'joy-riders'" on flights
National Library of New Zealand
Description of the 6 minute flights given by passengers
(Cost per person of 2 guineas was reported in the Dominion, 2 Sept 1920, p.5)
National Library of New Zealand
Dickson also held a stunt flying demo which about 1200 people paid to view
National Library of New Zealand
When asked about viability of an airport in Marlborough, Dickson discussed costs & where to locate, 1 Sept 1920
National Library of New Zealand
Moore (Avro's mechanic) described getting ready for the flight from Christchurch & the flight to Wellington
Dickson's skill as a pilot was needed to use a map & compass when flying above clouds
National Library of New Zealand
Marlborough Chamber of Commerce presented Dickson & Moore with wallet of notes each, 4 Sept 1920
National Library of New Zealand
On the return journey, Dickson carried the first airmail - civic greetings from Marlborough to Canterbury
He'd met the NZFS pilots at Hutt Park who were busy on their own plane to fly the Strait & saw him fly into Wellington
National Library of New Zealand
Formal welcome on arrival back at Christchurch held on 6 Sept 1920
National Library of New Zealand
Centennial marked with special re-enactment on 25 Aug 2020
Plus, tea and scones at the Marlborough Aero Club in Omaka
Radio New Zealand
Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Sarah Johnston plays recordings of 100th anniversary & other historic Cook Strait flights
Radio New Zealand
What happened to forming the aero mail service in Canterbury?
The South Canterbury syndicate was formed in 1920 to establish an aerial mail and passenger service
The Air Board proposed to Minister of Defence that planes be loaned to the syndicate, 13 Sept 1920
National Library of New Zealand
Jan 1921: Cabinet approved aerial mail service contracts to Canterbury Aviation Company (for Chch, Ashburton & Timaru)
Northern contract (Auckland to Whangarei) was let to the New Zealand Flying School Co., Auckland (Messrs, Walsh Bros)
National Library of New Zealand
On 31 Jan 1921, Dickson flew the first flight of the Canterbury Aviation Company’s new airmail service
As the venture wasn't profitable, on 2 April 1921 the Postmaster of Christchurch announced the service would cease
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
In 1923 Govt purchased the land & assets from the Canterbury Aviation Company for its newly formed air force
Photo: Group posing during the handover in front of an Avro 504k at Sockburn Aerodrome, which was renamed Wigram
Air Force Museum of New Zealand
Find out more:
'First flight across Cook Strait', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/first-flight-across-cook-strait, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 24-Aug-2020
Simon Moody, (19/8/2020), 'Cook Strait: The First Flight', Air Force Museum, URL: https://www.airforcemuseum.co.nz/blog/cook-strait-the-first-flight/
Simon Moody (29/01/2021), 'New Zealand’s First Scheduled Air Mail Service', Air Force Museum of New Zealand, URL: https://www.airforcemuseum.co.nz/blog/new-zealands-first-scheduled-air-mail-service/
Peter Aimer, 'Aviation - Early flying feats', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/aviation/page-2