PERMANENT AIR WORK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 16, 21 January 1919, Page 8

PERMANENT AIR WORK

t FASCINATION OF FLYING. The recently cabled statement by the Air Minister (Xordf Weir) as to the possibilities of making the Ajr Force permanent for peace purposes give* added interest ’to the following article, by a writer in the London Gaily Mail. Hie senior flying officer summed op things ratther nearly; ’ “We all want peace, but half of us want to keep our jobs.’ The situation is somewhat paradoxial; whiles ei|eyyone join the station is eagerly ' 'discussing the chance of an early—and satisfactory—end to the war. a) per cent of us are applying to be kept on in the service. It is probably safe to say that much the same is the case at a great many other Air Force centres. What are the reasons for this? Why should thousands—very likely it is tens of thousands of men be anxious to • remain potential combatants when the war is over? Unquestionably the meet compelling attraction is th® fascination of flying. Thera it is, enticing and gripping—the Ijire of the air. But there are other powerful factor# at work. . Flying is a good job, full of great ■ possibility es». It is pretty well paid ; it is not humdrum ; it gives one big chances to see the world free of cost, it is “roan’s” work; and),it pro-’ Tides that sporting element which_ appeals to moet of us so strongly. Then further, it is the only _ thing at which 0o many in it can claim bmba xwly expert. During the war thousands and thousand!* of young men have served »n apprenticeship at living. ThOY have 310 other trade Or profession, and there ia, probably nothing else at which they Could make so much money. Therefore ft is perfectly natural thev should want to go on flying and qualifying for proa very large number of older men, ground officers of all sorts, should also want to stay in th© Aiy Force is rather more surprising. It seems strange that family men, men who heltf important positions in civil life before they joined* up, should actually ask to H allowed to carry on. Yet such is the * case . Uncertainty as to what lies before the nation when peace comes is partly responsible; with some «t is a case of a bird in the hand- But this alone would not keep all who are askimr to be kept. ■ a The life and atmosphere of the flying community are great attractions. The cheery good-fellowship of the mess 5s as strong as the old charm® of the elnb ; the open-air lift with it* onportunities *or sport and games is stronger than the stuffiness of the towirwith Its creation. And if you add tp all _ tins the benefits of leave three cy four time* a vear, the complete lack of so many of ’the worries inseparable from ordinary business life, the pension steadily mounting up all the time, and the social opportunities which a commission carries with it, it Is not t difficult to understand why so many, aw eager to Stave that letter “P,” signifying “Permanent,” after . their names m the Royal Air Force list. j