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Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0468.PDF
JULY 23, 1925 LIGHT 'PLANE CLUB DOINGS The Midland Aero Club.—The suggested scheme ofworking and terms oi membership of the light aeroplane section of the Midland Aero Club were outlined at a meetingof the organisation in Birmingham on Monday, July 13. Major Vernon Brook presided, and said the club had beenapproved by the Air Ministry in connection with the Ministry's light aeroplane scheme, and would receive a subsidy of /3.000,^2,000 of which would be in the form of equipment. Two De Havilland Moth light aeroplanes had been ordered anddelivery was expected at the end of this month. It was hoped that actual flying would be in progress some time duringAugust. Arrangements had been made to use the aerodrome at Castle Bromwich, and within a few days a pilot instructorwould be appointed. Major Gilbert Dennison, the Hon. Secretary, said for thefirst 500 new members it was proposed that the annual sub- scription should be £\ Is. in the case of ordinary membersand between £3 3s. and £4 4s. in the case of flying members. After the first 500 members the terms would be the sameexcept that an entrance fee of £1 Is. would be charged in addition. It was estimated that the flying charges both during thetuitional period and subsequently when members would use the machines for practice flying would be between 25s.and 305. per hour. Altogether it was calculated that the cost of each flying member of taking his certificate would bewell under ^25. Twelve hours was the average time during which it was considered a flying member should become pro-ficient, but no flying member would be allowed to make his first solo flight until he had had ten hours' dual controlinstruction. The club was aiming at a membership of a thousand,which would include ladies, and was open to anybody in- terested in flying from any point of view, whether as a sportor as Service flying. Membership, in view of the fact that at the moment there were only two machines available fortuition, would probably have to be restricted. In connection with the flying activities it was hoped to develop greatlythe social side, so as to make the aerodrome attractive to those members of the club who did not necessarily desire to fly-in conjunction with the actual flying tuition there would be a series of lectures on the theoretical side, and examinersfrom the Air Ministry would come down once a month to test flying members desirous of taking their flying certificates.Ladies would be eligible to become flying members, and on the vexed question of the medical examination of intendingflying members the club had decided to accept, provisionally, the certificate of fitness of the member's own medical man.The club would welcome members who, after taking their flying certificates, acquired their aeroplane, and ran it fromCastle Bromwich. As soon as the two Moth machines were delivered, a public meeting would be held, at which the club'sscheme would be formulated in definite form. BOY CLERKS IN THE ROYAL AIR FORCE New Scheme Outlined As a result of the experience gained from the working ofthe scheme for the enlistment of boys in the Royal Air Force as aircraft apprentices, the Air Ministry has drawnup a scheme on broadly similar lines for the entry of well- educated boys into the ranks of the Royal Air Force to betrained for clerical duties. The scheme should prove attrac- tive to boys with an aptitude for clerical work and a likingfor service life, who desire to see the world. The experience and training obtained during service should be of greatassistance to them on returning to civil life. The clerical work in the Royal Air Force, particularly that connectedwith pay and stores accounting, calls for intelligence and accuracy and a capacity for readily assimilating instruction,and a good standard of education is therefore required from candidates. They must be physically fit, between the agesof 15J and 17, and must be of pure European descent and the sons of natural-born or naturalised British subjects. Apamphlet (Air Publication 1109) containing the detailed regulations can be obtained on application from the Secretary,Air Ministry, Adastral House, Kingsway. Entry under this scheme will be by one of two systems—(i) open competition and (ii) direct enlistment. These two methods will operate in alternate quarters of the year. Open Competition.—The first open competition will beheld by the Civil Service Commissioners at various centres commencing on October 16 next, when 30 vacancies willbe offered for competition. Successful candidates at this examination will enter the R. A.F. in January, 1926. Requestsfor forms of application to sit for the examination should be sent to the Secretary, Civil Service Commission, BurlingtonGardens, W.I, and not to the Air Ministry. No form of application received after September 3 next can be accepted.No candidate may compete simultaneously at this examina- tion, and at the concurrent examination for the entry ofaircraft apprentices in the Royal Air Force. Direct Enlistment.—The first entry by direct enlistmentwill take place in October next, when 15 candidates will be selected for entry forthwith. This method of entry is open only to those who have obtained a School Certificateby passing one of the examinations of the approved university or other examining bodies, or, as regards boys educated inScotland or Northern Ireland, have attained an equivalent standard of education. Forms of application may beobtained from the Secretary, Air Ministry, Adastral House, Kingsway, W.C. 2, and should be completed and returned tothe Air Ministry not later than September 3. A Selection Committee will interview suitable candiates at the RoyalAir Force Station, Ruislip, Middlesex. Railway warrants will be provided. If necessary, a brief educational testmay be given. Selected candiates who are found medically fit will be attested forthwith for 12 years from the age of 18,with the possibilityof re-engaging to complete 24 years with a view to pension. Unsuccessful candidates will be givenfree railway warrants to their homes. Entrants under the Boy Clerks scheme will be providedwith a free outfit, and will be lodged and rationed free of cost in addition to receiving pay. They will be trained fortwo years, during which period they will receive instruction in shorthand, typewriting and book-keeping, etc., in additionto practical office work, and will continue their general educa- tion. A boy who passes out well Will, provided he is 18 yearsof age, be eligible for advancement to the rank of leading aircraftman (Group IV). The present rate of' pay of aleading aircraftman is 4s. Qd. a day rising to 5s. Id. a day, and there are good prospects of subsequent advancement.A certain number of boys of special promise will be selected for a further course, and, if successful, will be advanced tothe rank of Corporal (Group IV), the present rate of pay of which is Ss. 10d. a day, rising to 6s. %d. a day. Those boyswho pass out successfully but fail to reach the standard required for leading aircraftman or corporal will be classifiedas aircraftman 1st class or aircraftman 2nd class, according to the marks they obtain, with pay of 4s. a day (rising to4s. 4d.) and 3s. %d. a day, respectively. There will, of course, be opportunities for further advance-ment at a later stage. Norwegian Air Fatality ON July 16 two Norwegian aviators, Lieuts. Amundsen and Knudtzon, crashed from a height of 300 ft. during flying exercises near Christiansand, and both were killed. Air Fighting in Morocco FRENCH aircraft are carrying out extensive and successful operations in the Morocco campaign. Just recently French machines on the Ouezzan front bombed the Kabyle and Beni Mesguilda, who suffered heavily. The situation at present has somewhat improved, especially in the east, thanks to artillery and air action, the Riffs having received great losses. Aerial Targets at Gosport THE Air Ministry announces that an aeroplane towing a target will be employed in connection with firing practice at the Gosport aerodrome until further notice. All pilots should keep clear of this machine and its target. 468
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