- George Bolt
George Bruce Bolt OBE (born 24 May, 1893 in
Dunedin , died 27 July, 1963 inAuckland ) [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=4B44 Dictionary of New Zealand Biography: George Bruce Bolt] ] was a pioneeringNew 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 atKohimarama . 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 Westerveltfloatplanes 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 ft to m|6500.Rendel, David (1975) "Civil Aviation in New Zealand: An Illustrated History". Wellington. A.H. & A.W.Reed. ISBN 0 589 00905 2] [http://www.auckland-airport.co.nz/Community/aviators.php?avid=bolt Auckland Airport: Biography of George B. Bolt] ] In 1921 he flew fromAuckland toWellington in 5 hours and 16 minutes with stops atKawhia andWanganui with Leo Walsh as passenger.He was an
RNZAF andRoyal Air Force pilot duringWorld War II , and Chief Engineer ofTasman Empire Airways Limited , (now known asAir New Zealand ), from 1944 to 1960, where his experience with theShort Sandringham lead him to play a role in the development of theShort 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.
References
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