WOMEN IN THE AIR

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11827, 7 January 1933, Page 2

WOMEN IN THE AIR

TWENTY YEARS HENCE

Twenty years from now the sky will ho*filled with flying women. Women going shopping and taking their children to school by air; acting as taxi-drivers—for there is no reason why women should not become pilois qualified to carry passeners fos hire or reward. 55

Kathleen, Countess of Drogheda, chairman of the women’s section of the Air League of the British Empire. spoke these prophetic words in London recently, states a London correspondent. ‘•This year more women than ever are becoming pilots," she continued. “.Mark my words—we are only just on the fringe of the possibilities of the air.’ 5

In view of Lady Drogheda’s statement it is of interest to record that in England, if not in Australia, the "airwoman” type bar. already evolved and may bo clearly identified from other women. Go out to Hamvorih, Heston, Stag. Lane or Hatfield any day of the week and you may see her—well —dressed, debonair, cool, calm and collected. Her clothes are devised for comfort, land at- the same time are chic. Frequently site has carefully harmonised the colouring and fittings of her machine to suit her own personality—even chosen the make of it as, a complement to herself.

Some of the machines are wonderfully fitted up inside. For instance. Lady Drummond Hay has a special folding desk where shei keeps heitypewriter and other writing materials. Some planes even have miniature cocktail bars fitted inside. The evolution of the closed cabin aeroplane has been responsible ) partly, for the great interest" women are taking nowadays in flying, for it removes any necessity of any special flying outfit. A woman can', step into her plane and emerge at tlie end of an international 'joiirney looking as fresh and spruce as when, she left horde. ’ ■

The Alasrer of Semphill. whose amareur interest in flying is well-known, recently revealed an interesting comparison which he had drawn up, showing the relative cost of running an. aeroplane and a ear. The figures were illuminating, for - they demonstrated quite clearly, that flying is not, as some people have thought in. the past, exclusively for the rich. The woman who runs her own car will probably, in five or ten years’ time have switched over to an aeroplane.