Author(s): Errol W. Martyn

Aircraft

A Passion For Flight's definitive account of New Zealand aviation's formative years continues with this volume covering civil aviation activity in New Zealand and by New Zealanders abroad from 1910 to August 1914. Whereas it took only a 184-page first volume to cover the previous four decades this volume's coverage of just five years runs to 320 pages, such was the astonishing growth of interest and participation during the period. The author brings to light much new material through eyewitness accounts and extensive research of primary sources. He also corrects a number of long-standing errors in previous accounts, particularly regarding the Walsh brothers' trials and tribulations with the Howard Wright biplane (later christened Manurewa No.1) that was imported by the syndicate of which they were members. Accompanying the text is an amazing collection of over 280 illustrations, many of which appear here in print or are displayed and captioned in their correct context for the first time. The trilogy's concluding volume will cover the Joe Hammond story and military aviation for the 1910-1914 period.