THE COMPLEAT AVIATOR

Evening Star, Issue 20986, 28 December 1931, Page 9

THE COMPLEAT AVIATOR

AIR UNIVERSITY FULL COURSE OF TRAINING The international flying school at Hamble, on Southampton Water, progresses well. Since the Duke of Gloucester formally opened the school in June nearly 200 pupils and officers of the Reserve Air Force Officers have passed through it, 160 of them in the period which ended on September 30. Underlying the scheme is the determination to provide in a civilian organisation the full course of training that was previously only obtainable in the Royal Air Force. The school is run in every detail on service lines, under the command of Group Captain R. J. Barton, and all of the flying instructional staff are men who have had years of experience as pilots of the 11.A.F. Airmen from overseas, particularly officers serving in foreign air forces, aro likely to form a large proportion of the pupils as time goes on, and inquiries have already been received from most parts of the world, including the united States Canada, Argentina, Egypt, Finland, Germany, India, Latvia, Nigeria, Sweden, and Yugo-Slavia. During September the school aeroplanes flew no less than 735 hours, a figure which deserves enhanced value when the poor weather prevailing on most days is taken into consideration. Some of this time was occupied by instruction in “ blind ” or instrument Hying, the pupil sitting in a cockpit with his outward view completely blocked by a hood and steering the machine entirely by the instruments ou the dashboard in front of him. Men who have gone through this course have attained remarkable proficiency, even to tho extent of making a cross-country flight over a pre-selected route and performing acrobatic evolutions guided by tho instruments alone. Three pupils have qualified for the school’s certificate of competence in “blind” flying, and several others are receiving instruction. Engine houses for testing aro being built. When they are finished the school, which undertakes all overhaul work in the specially-equipped shops next to the aerodrome, will bo a completely self-reliant uni'-. The second block of sleeping quarters attached to the mess is finished, and there are now altogether twenty-six rooms available for pupils. A slipway on Southampton Water adjacent to the land _ aerodrome enables seaplane instruction to be given. Thus the conception of a real “air university” is rapidly becoming fact. Every branch of air pilotage and navigation is covered by one or other of the standard flying courses. Thenovico may go there—as several have gone already—knowing nothing of aviation, and emerge at the end of his chosen course of study, which may last as long as two years if he wish, a fully qualified airman. There aro “ refresher ” courses for the trained service flyer, lessons for instructors, courses for commercial pilots and private owners. And tho satisfactory completion of a course entitles the student to one of tho school’s diplomas, documents which may confidently he expected to fill the same place in aviation as a degree from a leading university in other fields of endeavour.