Lady Fergusson Seeking Wings

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 2

Lady Fergusson Seeking Wings

(New Zealand Pres. Association)

AUCKLAND, February 27

Lady Fergusson, wife of the GovernorGeneral, is learning to fly and hopes to go solo before leaving Auckland in May, she said today after her fifth flight.

She had her first lesson with the Auckland Aero Club at Ardmore last Tuesday and today she said she was “loving it,” “The urge to fly a plane myself has been building up for a long time and I thought Auckland would be the best place for me to start,” said Lady Fergusson. “I don’t expect to get my licence here, but I want to be able to fly solo before we leave Auckland and, later this year, return to Britain." Lady Fergusson said she had been encouraged by Sir Bernard Fergusson, who flew his own Auster aircraft in Scotland after the Second World War, and her 11-year-old son, Geordie, who was “very keen” on aeroplanes. “This first-hand knowledge will help me to discuss aircraft intelligently with Geordie and my husband. After all, when Geordie is grownup, flying will be rather like driving a car is today.” said Lady Fergusson. Instructing Lady Fergusson is the club’s operations manager, Mr L. J. Day. After today’s circuit training—repeated taking off, circling and landing—Mr Day said his star pupil was “coping very well.” He could not say when Lady Fergusson would fly solo, but he was sure it would be within a month. She was well up to standard.