Vivian Walsh

Leo and Vivian Walsh sitting in the Manurewa No. 1, with financial backers standing in front The Walsh brothers of the New Zealand Flying School, Vivian Claude Walsh (6 November 1887–3 July 1950) and Austin Leonard (Leo) Walsh (5 February 1881–16 July 1951) were pioneers of New Zealand aviation. Vivian is most noted for being the first New Zealander to gain a pilot's certificate, and completing New Zealand's first recognised powered flight in 1911. The brothers opened the New Zealand Flying School in 1915 to train pilots for the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War.

Childhood and early life Leo Walsh was born on 5 February 1881 in Bradford, Yorkshire. He was the oldest of four children to James Austin (Austin) Walsh and Jane Mary Towler. Their second child, Veronica, was born in 1883. The following year the family emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Auckland. Their third child, Vivian, was born on 6 November 1887 in Auckland. Their final child, a daughter called Doreen, was born in 1895. Austin Walsh was a businessman and managed an Auckland tobacco manufacturing company. He was responsible for producing New Zealand's first machine-manufactured cigarettes, under the 'Atlas' brand. Their mother, Jane, died in 1904 from cancer. With their father, the brothers established a mechanical engineering and motor importing business, called the British-American Engineering Company, in Auckland. Leo and Vivian were also founding members of the Auckland Power Boat Association, and part of their business involved selling and servicing Kelvin marine engines.

Early aviation

Aero Club In 1910, the brothers were heavily involved in the formation and creation of the Aero Club of New Zealand. Fascinated by accounts of aviation experiments in Europe and America, they formed the Aero Club with other enthusiasts. There were originally 25 members, and Leo was the foundation president. By late 1910, members of the club had four aeroplane projects under way, which included the Walsh brothers’ venture. Vivian completed all flight trials. Leo never became a pilot because he feared his reactions were too slow.

Following a few more test flights, a private flight was arranged for newspaper reporters and photographers on 9 February 1911. A short flight was accomplished, which concluded with the brakeless Manurewa colliding with a fence. This feat was praised as an aviation milestone.

Air surveying The Walshes were involved in early surveying flight projects. In 1921, the Fijian government sponsored the Walshes to conduct survey flights of the islands.

In October 1953, a major air show, the Walsh Brothers Memorial Air Pageant, was held at Whenuapai Airport in Auckland to raise funds. The exhibition included a British European Airways Vickers Viscount, an RAAF GAF Canberra A84-202, a Royal Air Force English Electric Canberra, three Vampires of No.75 Squadron RNZAF and several others. Whenuapai Mission Bay Manurewa sculpture

A sculpture by Fred Graham at Mission Bay, titled Manurewa to commemorate the Walsh brothers was erected in December 2007. Though originally part of Kohimarama at the opening of the New Zealand Flying School, Mission Bay was renamed as its own suburb in the late 1910s. The project was initiated by the Mission Bay-Kohimarama Residents Association, and predominantly funded by the Eastern Bays Community Board. Every January, approximately 70 students aged 16–19 from various backgrounds camp for two weeks at Matamata aerodrome.

The Walsh Trophy is presented at the end of each camp, with the recipient being "the best all round ab-initio student in flying, exam and leadership at the school".

Walsh Memorial Library

The Walsh Memorial Library, named for the Walsh brothers at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) in Auckland opened in 1964. It was set up with support from the Walsh Memorial Trust and the Royal Aeronautical Society. The Walsh Memorial Library is a reference library which houses collections of manuscript, pictorial, published, and oral history collections based on New Zealand aviation, transport and technology.

75th anniversary plaque

A Memorial stone was erected at the location of the first flight of the Manurewa, on modern day Airfield Road, Takanini. The memorial was unveiled in 1986, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the flight.

The plaque reads: "The Howard Wright biplane, 'Manurewa', built by Leo and Vivian Walsh with the help of their sisters and others made the first powered controlled flight in New Zealand from this field on February 5th 1911".

Walsh Brothers Place Walsh Brothers Place is a small, predominantly service road adjacent to the Auckland Airport Domestic Terminal. Walsh Brothers Pl. is connected to a series of roads named after other notable aviators, including Geoffrey Roberts Road, George Bolt Memorial Drive, Cyril Kay Road and Andrew McKee Avenue.