WOMEN IN THE AIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 171, 21 July 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

WOMEN IN THE AIR.

i THEIR FLAIR FOR FLYING. The fact that the London Aeroplane ■ < lub cannot accept anv more members •or flying instructions until June is a - -ign of the time- (writes Constance i W i'a'hesirr. pioneer a:* w • man, in an ' exchange of recent date!. Most 'provincial clubs, t0.., are well supported by enthusiastic men and women of the . new living nge. and it is satisfactory to 'know that young Britain (and somo of .Id Britain) is becoming more and more ■ air minded. It is even more satisfactory knowthat modern woman, in «pite of the evcr-rveurring questions ahout !ier eapai'iiities, i- taking tiie air, literally, and '.\ith an enthusiasm which really U'gan in pr. -war days, when Mrs. Huller nnd Mr-. Maurice Hewlett were showing the men a thing or two about handling .primit i\ ,• aeroplane-. Flying in those days was a spectacular feat, and for a woman to teach her son to fly. as Mrs. Hewlett did. \\a= con- -• • iered by many to be not quite decent' 1' i> iitir is no l.inger spectacular, and ir may sunn be an inevitable -o. ial accom nli-hment for some women, and a nor foo-e\'[icnsive week-end for others who • li'ring tiie week, are emploved in rea-on-,nblv eood jobs. Alrendv expert women pilot®, such as Lady Railev. are using .the plane for long-distance travel. j T see no reason why some of our large sto-es and combines should not co-oper-rite with our aeroplane clobs in a plan j whereby employees could be given the iTtri vilce and pleasure of a little week|entl piloting. Hundreds of girls would jump at such an opportunity, and I am prepared to supply to their more circumspect directors the necessary statistics to convince !them thnt the staffs would not be depleted every Mondav morning bv acci- | dents. I The margin of safctv in the modern tneroplane is remarkable—and T believe | it is only because of the Royal Air Force 'casualties that in rnnnv minds there stil' jlingors an idea that living is hazardous | But service living and civil flving are two very different tilings. That woman's toninerament is suited to flving is proved bv the existence of manv s oicces = fnl women nilots. It is no* P nuestion of daring and the taking of risks, but one of instinctive iudgmen' j»nd the of good "hands." In | mnnv ways flying is an emotional experience. j Tt is as easy to fly as to drive a motor 'car. and any woman of ordinarv intelligence. given a sense of touch, can learn jto pilot the modern light aeroplane. ; T suggest week-end flying to women a = a stimulating tonic of far greater value than the pernicious cocktail, which .threatens to drown young womanhood. ;The flving clubs, where subscriptions and •flving fees are modejate. will show them :how to indulge in a sport which is no«' spreading over the whole of Europe, i Altogether there are 19 clubs, and the makers of one make of plans are making nearly a dozen machines a week to I keep pace with the demands. The j Cinque Ports Air Club, the youngest Jsoei'ety, has 15 flying women members most other clubs encourage mixed ■ membership. j And if. as happened the other day. a pilot can fly in a bowler hat. there no reason why a woman «hould not wear her best creation if it helps her flving .style! ! The uglv "crash" helmet belongs to vesterday. thanks to the safetv of the ''>ht aeroplane of to-day. Women who treat, flying as a normal sport will enjov it the most and will help the progress of aviation. Those' who indulge in it in the hope of attracting the limelight will t n,n the risk of having their judgment warped—and this way, I admit, can lead I to the cemetery!