PRIVATE FLYING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26543, 19 August 1947, Page 6

PRIVATE FLYING

DEMAND FOR TUITION INCREASING, POPULARITY As is the. case throughout the country, private flying is becoming increasingly popular in Otago. Membership of the Otago Aero Club is now nearing the 500 mark, and it is a matter for satisfaction in the club that the flying membership is increasing correspondingly. There was a tendency for the actual flying to be done by a very small percentage, of the members, but now there is fF steady current of pupils for flight tuition, and the number in the instructional stage remains static at about 12. Members are Coming from as far afield as Oamaru, Invercargill, and Te Anau for tuition. Flying as a form of recreation is also attracting a large following in Central Otago, and the Alexandra Aero Club, which is affiliated with the Otago Club,, is looking forward to a resumption of activity. Because aircraft have to come, from Taieri to provide training facilities at Alexandra, full use of available fine weather cannot be made and. in consequence, Alexandra pilots are forced into something of a recess during the winter months, although several have been driving to the Taieri during the week-ends. The Alexandra Cluo is planning to open its season with a field day next month. The South Otago Aero Club, which was also affiliated with the Otago Club prior to the war, is again active, and members are hoping that an arrangement similar to that which obtained before the war, under which machines from Taieri flew to Balclutha every week for training purposes, may again be made. In the meantime the necessary authority has to be obtained again before the field which was used as a landing ground outside Balclutha before the war. can be utilised for that purpose.