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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0794.PDF
OCTOBER 13, 1927 PRIVA FLYING A Section of FLIGHT in the Interests of the Private Owner, Owner-Pilot, and Club Member BRISTOL AND WESSEX AEROPLANE CLUB OFFICIALLY OPENED THE Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club was formally opened on October 8 by Sir Samuel Hoare before a large gathering, at the Filton Aerodrome. In his speech, the Air Minister revealed some welcome news for our light 'plane clubs which have been struggling for existence and hoping for Government assistance as their reward. First, he gave a brief survey of the light 'plane movement and stated that there were no fewer than 1,500 members in the clubs, 150 of whom were flying members who had already taken their " A " and " B " certificates. This was the satisfactory result of the experiment started over two years ago and not the least satisfactory part was the share taken by keen sportsmen and sportswomen. During the last few weeks the Air Ministry had been considering very carefully the future of the light aeroplane clubs and the way in which they end of that time each club would be able to exist independent of the subsidy. It was much better to be independent of the inevitable conditions accruing from Government assistance, said Sir Samuel Hoare. The Favoured Clubs The Air Minister then announced that Bristol was one of the selected clubs as representing the West of England. Norwich would be another, as the capital of the East of England ; the third would be Nottingham, for the Midlands ; and the fourth, the Scottish Flying Club, representing Scotland. It might be that when further consideration was given to the scheme one or two more clubs would be favoured. He expressed the wish that Bristol would not only deserve the " FLIGHT " Photograph BRISTOL CLUB'S OFFICIAL OPENING.—A crowd of interested spectators listening to the speeches. could be assisted in their initial organisation. Up to the present they had been able to subsidise six clubs from the public funds. He was glad to be able to tell them it was now possible to increase the number of clubs to be thus favoured, and amongst the first of these selected was the Bristol Club. Sir Samuel Hoare then gave a short summary of the condi- tions pertaining to the offer. The basis of the subsidy was to be payment by results, and, in accordance with that principle, they were prepared to pay /50 to the club for every pilot who obtained his " A " or " B " certificate. In addition, they would pay £1 10s. for every flying hour up to a maximum of 20 hours, flown by a pilot having either certi- ficate. Further, there would be a grant of £10 in respect of each member holding either licence in force on the previous January 1. They were prepared to make these grants up to a maximum of £"2,000 a year, which was the maximum sum any light aeroplane club could receive, and to continue them for three years, upon the general understanding that at the subsidy but would prove one of the great civil flying centres. Mr. A. H. Downes Shaw, chairman of the club, in moving a vote of thanks to the Air Minister, said it was a great occasion to have with them both the Air Minister and the Director of Civil Aviation, Sir Sefton Brancker. He mentioned that the club had 55 pupils under instruction, and three'of them were ladies. Four pupils had been brought to the solo stage, and of these three had never flown an aeroplane before last July. They had also a member who owned a machine, and in a year's time he believed the number would be increased to three or four owners. The Flying The opening ceremony was naturally attended by much interesting flying. Fog had prevailed in the morning and fears were held that the visiting machines might not be able to get through. But there was a good attendance, amongst those arriving by air being Sir Sefton Brancker, on a " Blue- .716
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