The Aviation World

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20560, 10 May 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

The Aviation World

FLYING IN INDIA.

FOUR AERO CLUBS.

India, although it is showing but little interest in the proposed formation of an Indian Air Force, is nevertheless taking with enthusiasm to private flying. Already there are some four light aeroplane clubs in active existanco, and amongst them tho Bombay Flying Club can claim a premier position by virtuo of tho fact that it recently won the Do Havilland Moth aeroplane offered by Sir Charles, now Lord, Wakefield of Hythe, to the first Indian club to train 12 ab initio pilots, of whom at least six were Indians. This machine was christened and formally presented to the club by His Excellency, the Governor of Bombay, Sir Frederick Sykes, in tho presence of some 10,000 spectators who had gathered to witness tho event and tho subsequent flying display at the Juliu aerodrome. Tho Bombay Flying Club, though it was established only in January of last year, has made unusually rapid progress, indicative, no doubt, of the measure in which civil aviation is going to advance in India. At tho outset tho Club received two Moth aeroplanes as a gift from tho Government of India in order that tho club might endeavour to make the people of the Presidency air-minded. From the moment flying started to tho end of the last hot weather, when the Club had to cease temporarily its activities owing to the monsoon flooding the aerodrome, 161 members had been enlisted, of whom 11 were qualified for " A" licences and ono for a " B." Handicapped by Monsoon. During the monsoon, the Club was much handicapped through lack of an aerodrome, but negotiations are proceeding for the purchase of the Juhu aerodrome from the Government of Bombay, by the Government of India, which proposes to raise it so as to make it possible to fly throughout the year. The Club owns four Moth machines, while five members of the Club own privately their own machines, bringing the total number of machines up to nine. Lord Wakefield, by this, liis latest gift to aviation, adds yet another to the list of machines which he has already presented to clubs throughout the Empire, and provides yet another indication of his generosity and Imperial outlook.