FLYING CLUBS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 112, 17 November 1928, Page 19

FLYING CLUBS

INCREASED POPULARITY ';. VOGUE OF THE LIGHT AEROPLANE ■ "In. view of the increase in-the nuiii...ber.of flying clubs in Now Zealand, the following, article by Norman I. ilul-berty'-F.R.Met.S., in the "Yorkshire .Post", has considerable interest. Ho lias boon intimately associated with the light aeroplane movement iv England since its inception, and reviews tho whole 'qiiestion of private flying. ■'Tho advent of the light aeroplane has-' givon a much-needed stimulus to private flying," .writes Mr. Hulbert. '^'Previously only 'those possessed of considerable means could afford to run their own aeroplane. The clay is also rapidly passing when the owner of a private aeroplane is regarded by some as a hero, by others as not quite compos mentis. Nevertheless, even to. day: it can happen that an announcement by someone that he has decided to purchase an aeroplane produces among his friends an effect comparable to-what might be expected if he had announced his intention of rolling oyer Niagara Falls iv a barrel, or riding a bicycle along the parapet of the Victoria Embankment! ' "During the last three years various types of small two-seater light aeroplanes have been designed for use by the private owner. Theso machines arc very easy to fly and almost 'foolproof. The most popular arcoplano in this class is the make in which the pilot and his passenger sit tandemwise, each being provided-with a complete set of. controls so-that- either can fly the machine at will. This machine can take off and-land in almost any small field, and ' its' folding wings enable it to bo housed in any ordinary garage or barn. "Light aeroplanes have a maximum speed of about 100 miles an hour. The engine, being designed on motor-car lines, can be looked after and kept in tune by anyone used to runninga small car. The running costs, when it is remembered that two people aro carried at nearly double the speed of an express train, are remarkably low. The petrol consumption averages 20 miles per gallon, and, on extended tours, the - total' running costs,' including petrol, oil, insurance, etc., have been found to work out at only about 2d per mile. "Owners of light aeroplanes in England are already acquiring- the habit of using them as most people use their , cars, and the distance that one can in / this way cover during the day will ; doubtless lead to a rapid increase in tho.numbers adopting this new means of getting about. The journey from . London to Shaftesbury, about 110 •miles, can be covered in one hour and a quarter, and the amount. of petrol consumed is about 4 gallons, which for | two'passengers works out. considerably cheaper than travelling by' either rail or road. I land in a field adjoining -the house, fold the wings, and wheel the machine into tho garage. .''Lady Bailey, whose recent' arrival in Capetown marked the successful accomplishment of an unaccompanied flight from' England, across Europe, and over the vast distances of the African Continent, has won the admiration of the . whole sporting world. Such a flight, .unsubsidised and lacking the elaborate organisation enjoyed by other flights .'half across the world, must .surely rank as one of the greatest sporting achievcinients ever accomplished by women. Lady Bailey learned to fly in Loudon about two years ago only, and quickly became one of the most enthusiastic private owners in England. Eumour has it, indeed, that, on more than one ■.occasion, she has been gently reproved by the stewards of the Jockey Club for landing on Newmarket Heath to the exclusive use of which an older sport enjoys a prior claim! "To enable the man or woman of small means to take up flying, the Brit. ish Air Ministry has granted subsidies of varying amounts "to several light "aeroplane clubs in England. These are situated in or near London, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Birmingham, Southampton, Glasgow, Bristol, Norwich, and Lyinpnc, and at each of these centres it is possible to learn to fly at a very reasonable cost. Taking the London Aeroplane Club as an example, the charge for flying instruction, including insurance and the hire of machine, is 40s per hour, while the cost of hiring a machine for solo practico flying is only £1 per hour, which cannot be regarded as excessive. "It is the introduction of the light aoroplano which has made theso clubs possible, for previously only large military types of machines wero available for instruction at charges which were / in the neighbourhood of £10 per hour. These clubs have an aggregate membership approaching 3000, of whom a largo number have already obtained their Air Ministry pilot's license. "If has been found from experience that the average man or woman requires ten hours' dual instruction before being^ allowed to fly solo. The applicant for an Air Ministry pilot's license must then complete three hours' solo flying, so that it is to-day possible to learn to fly for something under £30, though to this must be added the annual subscription to the club, usually about three guineas."