THE COST OF FLYING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22436, 24 June 1938, Page 7

THE COST OF FLYING

“Expense Greatly Exaggerated” INSTRUCTION FOR £2O FORESEEN “The general public seems to have the quite mistaken impression that it costs about £IOO to £l2O to learn to fly; or at least to get the A licence,” said Mr W. A. Hopkins at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Aero Club last evening. “If we go in for a light aircraft section it will be possible for persons to gain their A licence for about £2O. That puts flying within the reach of everyone.” Mr R. S. Taylor, president of the club, said that the formation of a light aircraft section had been thought of and he considered it a necessity. There was bound to be a great demand for training in this cheaper way. It was proposed that if this section were formed it would be quite a separate concern, though naturally under the Anal and definite auspices and control of the club as a whole. It had been considered, Mr Taylor continued, that a pilot gaining his A licence on a light aircraft would naturally desire later on to have his licence endorsed for a heavier type of machine, such as the Moths, and thus the membership of the club would be greatly increased. Mr G. L. Stedman, chief pilot instructor to the club, said that the idea of forming this section was highly desirable. There were many persons who were wanting to learn to fly, but were being held back by the cost, their opinions of which were usually exaggerated. He said, however, that quite a lot of dual instruction would probably be necessary to fit a pilot trained on the light type for the heavier types. Light aircraft were cheaper to obtain, and were quite easy to fly, according to statements by various members, and the incoming finance committee was advised to go into the scheme very thoroughly and see if there was not some way of improving the finances of the club by this means.