Grandparents As Pilots

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31318, 14 March 1967, Page 18

Grandparents As Pilots

A grandmother who began flying lessons 10 months ago to ensure that her 55-year-old farmer husband had someone to discuss his flying tuition with, has joined him in gaining a private pilot’s licence.

Both Mr and Mrs C. L. Austin, who farm in the Oxford district were tested for their

licences yesterday morning. They received their tuition through the Canterbury Aero Club, and were tested by Mr I. Gunderson, flight testing officer with the Department of Civil Aviation. The obtaining of licences by a husband and wife at the same time was most unusual, said the president of the club, Mr W. A. Morrison. Mr Austin who has business interests in other parts of New Zealand, said he was thinking of buying a plane for getting

around in. Mrs Austin said that as she now had no family responsibilities she would be able to accompany her husband on all his trips. Takingup flying had been

I quite a challenge at his age, ' Mr Austin said. s His wife described it as ■ “terribly interesting” with the theoretical work difficult for i older people.