George Bolt
Encyclopedia
George Bruce Bolt OBE
(born 24 May, 1893 in Dunedin
, died 27 July, 1963 in Auckland
) was a pioneering New Zealand
aviator
.
He formed the Canterbury Aero Club in 1910, helping to make and fly gliders on the Cashmere
hills. He used these to take aerial photographs in 1912.
In 1916 Bolt was hired by pioneer pilot Vivian Walsh
as a mechanic at the Walsh Brothers Flying School at Kohimarama
. He learnt to fly the brothers' Curtiss flying boats and the machines of their own design, including the Walsh brothers Type D, as well as the two Boeing and Westervelt
floatplanes which were the first machines made by that company.
In 1919 he flew New Zealand's first air mail and established an altitude record of 6500 feet (1,981.2 m). In 1921 he flew from Auckland
to Wellington
in 5 hours and 16 minutes with stops at Kawhia and Wanganui
with Leo Walsh
as passenger.
He was an RNZAF and Royal Air Force
pilot during World War II
, and Chief Engineer of Tasman Empire Airways Limited, (now known as Air New Zealand
), from 1944 to 1960, where his experience with the Short Sandringham
led him to play a role in the development of the Short Solent
.
Several streets and aviation related facilities in various New Zealand cities are named after him, including George Bolt Memorial Drive, the main access road to Auckland International Airport
.
Bolt performed initial research into the achievements of aviation pioneer and inventor Richard Pearse
during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
He received an OBE
in 1953. His son Richard Bolt
also served in the RNZAF and rose to the rank of air marshal
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 24 May, 1893 in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, died 27 July, 1963 in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
) was a pioneering New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
aviator
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
.
He formed the Canterbury Aero Club in 1910, helping to make and fly gliders on the Cashmere
Cashmere
Cashmere may refer to:* Cashmere wool, wool from the Cashmere goatPlaces* Another term for Kashmir, a region of the Indian subcontinent* Cashmere, New Zealand, a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand* Cashmere, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia...
hills. He used these to take aerial photographs in 1912.
In 1916 Bolt was hired by pioneer pilot Vivian Walsh
Vivian Walsh (aviator)
Vivian Claude Walsh was an engineer. Vivian and his elder brother Leo Austin Walsh were pioneers of New Zealand aviation.Vivian and Leo built a British Howard Wright biplane, which Vivian first flew on 5 February 1911...
as a mechanic at the Walsh Brothers Flying School at Kohimarama
Kohimarama
Kohimarama is a coastal residential Auckland City suburb, located to the east of the city.Situated in Eastern Auckland and has a reputation as being relatively wealthy, with many of the homes having some of the best views over Auckland Harbour. According to the 2001 census, Kohimarama has a...
. He learnt to fly the brothers' Curtiss flying boats and the machines of their own design, including the Walsh brothers Type D, as well as the two Boeing and Westervelt
Boeing Model 1
-References:* Bowers, Peter M. Boeing aircraft since 1916. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-804-6.-See also:...
floatplanes which were the first machines made by that company.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
to Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
in 5 hours and 16 minutes with stops at Kawhia and Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
with Leo Walsh
Vivian Walsh (aviator)
Vivian Claude Walsh was an engineer. Vivian and his elder brother Leo Austin Walsh were pioneers of New Zealand aviation.Vivian and Leo built a British Howard Wright biplane, which Vivian first flew on 5 February 1911...
as passenger.
He was an RNZAF and Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
pilot during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and Chief Engineer of Tasman Empire Airways Limited, (now known as Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
), from 1944 to 1960, where his experience with the Short Sandringham
Short Sandringham
- External links :* -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Jackson, A.J British Civil Aircraft since 1919 - Volume Three. London: Putnam & Company Ltd, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10014-X....
led him to play a role in the development of the Short Solent
Short Solent
- External links :* * *...
.
Several streets and aviation related facilities in various New Zealand cities are named after him, including George Bolt Memorial Drive, the main access road to Auckland International Airport
Auckland International Airport
Auckland Airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand with over 13 million passengers a year, expected to more than double by 2025...
.
Bolt performed initial research into the achievements of aviation pioneer and inventor Richard Pearse
Richard Pearse
Richard William Pearse , son of Cornish immigrants from St Columb near Newquay, a New Zealand farmer and inventor who performed pioneering experiments in aviation....
during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
He received an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1953. His son Richard Bolt
Richard Bolt (RNZAF officer)
Air Marshal Sir Richard Bolt, KBE, CB, DFC, AFC, was a World War II bomber pilot and a senior Royal New Zealand Air Force officer in the post-War years. He was Chief of the Air Staff from 1974 to 1976 and Chief of the New Zealand Defence Staff from 1976 to 1980 when he retired from the...
also served in the RNZAF and rose to the rank of air marshal
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
.