Aircraft Instrument Box [Course and Speed Calculator Box]
Maker and role
New Zealand. Royal New Zealand Air Force, Attributed to
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Object detail
Accession number
2005.84.10
Description
Box: wooden with a hinged lid and 2 metal claps. There is a leather carry handle in the centre fastened to the box by 2 metal clasps. The box has a green velvet lining. On the box lid are the words: "New Zealand Royal Air Force Per Ardua Ad Astra". On the inside of the lid handwritten is "C V TAIT [...], Waikato aero, Computer, C J TAIT HAMILTON, ICE. '
Brief History
This box housed the course and speed calculator or 'computer' used by Cliff Tait during his round the world flight in 1969 using an Aero Engine Services Limited (AESL) Airtourer single-engined aircraft. Cliff Tait carried out the flight to promote New Zealand and the NZ-built Airtourer to the world. Leaving Hamilton on 12 May 1969, he made the 30,500 mile (49,084 km) trip in 284 hours. Despite a range of challenges along the way, he returned safely to Hamilton on 1 August 1969. Tait made history as the first person to circumnavigate the globe in a New Zealand built aircraft, and probably the first in a single engine aircraft of this small size.
Marks
New Zealand Royal Air Force Per Adrua Ad Astra Printed
ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE / PER / ARDUA AD / ASTRA Label
COURSE & SPEED CALCULATOR / MK II / REF. No 6B/120 / SERIAL No 2876/36 Stencilled
C V TAIT [...], Waikato aero, Computer, C J TAIT HAMILTON, ICE. Hand-written
ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE / PER / ARDUA AD / ASTRA Label
COURSE & SPEED CALCULATOR / MK II / REF. No 6B/120 / SERIAL No 2876/36 Stencilled
C V TAIT [...], Waikato aero, Computer, C J TAIT HAMILTON, ICE. Hand-written
Media/Materials
Collection
Credit Line
New Zealand. Royal New Zealand Air Force. Aircraft Instrument Box [Course and Speed Calculator Box], 2005.84.10. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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