29 September 1913

On 29 September 1913, a Bleriot XI-2 arrived in New Zealand from Britain. Not the first aeroplane to fly in New Zealand, it did represent the first attempt by the New Zealand Government to fly a military aeroplane. The aircraft, flown by Second Lieutenant Joseph Hammond, was demonstrated successfully but the program was ended after a contretemps involving an unauthorized female passenger. The Bleriot was returned to England.