CLUB'S OFFER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 143, 18 June 1940, Page 3

CLUB'S OFFER.

TRAINING FLYERS. NEEDS .OF AIR FORCE. SUITABILITY OF MANGERE. "Nobody wants to make a profit out of the war and we are prepared to trails men at cost price—and train them according to the Government syllabus." That was the statement made by a member of the executive of the Auckland Aero Club who commented to-day on the oiler made by the secretary of tho club, Mr. L. W. Swan, that the club was prepared to operate the Mangcre aerodrome' as an elemertary Air Force training school at 72 fours' notice, if aeroplanes were made available by the Government. No reply has so far been received from the l'rime Minister, the Hon. P. Eraser, to whom the offer was addressed.-'-

"Up to the war the club was taking pupils through the syllabus of lectures and taking them through 50 hours of actual flying to the advanced training which, it may be assumed, is at least equal to the standards attained at New Plymouth and Taieri, the elementary flying schools at the present time," said the "Star's" informant. Club's Fine Record. He went on to say that before the war the club was covering the instructional course, Air Force training, civil reserve training, civil training and civil flying. Immediately the war broke out the Government took over the Mangcre aerodrome and carried on with instructors' courses alone so that the amount of flying was reduced by about 75 pel cent. At the same time the personnel and the ground staff were actually increased.

"At Mangcrc there is an all-weather aerodrome with a now clubhouse specially designed to meet the requirements of lecture rooms," he said. "There are also cooking facilities and a spacious hangar; in fact, all that is necessary is sonic provision for additional sleeping riccominodation. The concern of the executive of the club at seeing ail aerodrome they have built up now lying desolate ami not being utilised during a period of war mny be imagined. Weeds arc actually growing around the clubhouse. •"Our sole purpose 1 Is to assist the Government in training pilots, ami if the Government does not want to do it on its own account we are prepared to do the job efficiently and economically," be concludcd. Many Trainees Possible. The offer made to the Government by Mr. Swan pointed - out that if five machines were available the number of possible flying hours was 4000 annually, providing for 80 trainees. With additional machines, ho showed that the work could be expanded, so that with eight aeroplanes in commission, 0-100 hours would bo available and 12S men could be trained. The club was prepared to put this scheme into operation 72 hours after | advice that aeroplanes would be available. It would provide complete staff, including instructors and ground, personnel, without calling on any member who was already in the forces. So far as instructors were concerned, the club had men available with the necessary experience, and no doubt licenses for them could be obtained by arrangement with the Air Department. All machinery, tools, furniture and equipment would be provided without recourse to the Government's sources of supply. It was stated in another quarter that only instructors' courses were conducted at Hobsonvillc, and that the aerodrome at Whenuapai was practically unusable during the winter months, so that, iu spite of the fact that new grounds were under way, the Govr- iment could not afford to ignore an ■ Ter such as had been made by the Auckland Aero Club.