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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0893.PDF
FLIGHT, AUGUST 21 19S1 ROLAND GARROS CLUB HOUSE, ORLY AN important step for theencouragement of touristaviation in France wastaken on Tuesday, August 11 last, at the Orly Air-port, when M. Etienne Kiche, the Under-Secretary of State forAviation, laid the corner stone of the club house for the new sectionof the Aero Club of France, known as " The Roland GarrosGroupement de Tourisme." This section of France's premier aero club has been organised to aid the development of privateflying and to furnish the facilities in the Paris district so much desired by tourist pilots. Created only about one year ago, and named after thefamous airman who did so much to aid the development of aviation in France, the " Roland Garros Groupement " hasmet with a most encouraging success. Some 170 members have been enrolled. Two good sized hangars have beensecured at the Orly airport and another one will be shortly added to accommodate the increasing number of planes.The fleet of the " R.G.G." now consists of 41 tourist machines, which belong to the individual members, and areequipped with motors having some 4,300 h.p. in the aggre- gate. Twenty-eight of these planes are " garaged " in theOrly hangars. The " R.G.G." has, in addition, purchased three light tourist planes, which are at the disposal ofmembers who desire to fly, but who have not as yet acquired their own machines. These planes comprise aPotez 36, a two-seater cabin monoplane equipped with a 95-h.p. Renault air-cooled motor, a Caudron 232, a two-seater open-cockpit biplane, also equipped with a Renault 95-h.p. air-cooled motor, and a Morane Saulnier " Moth,"the well-known two-seater open-cockpit biplane, built under licence in France and equipped with 85-h.p. " Gipsy " air-cooled engine. A maintenance and repair force consisting of two mechanics and two helpers, under the direction ofAntoine Maillet, an experienced pilot, are also on hand to maintain the " R.G.G." planes^ in proper flying condition. A large attendance witnessed the laying of the cornerstone of the new club house. Colonel Andre Watteau, one of the directors of the " Groupement," acted as chairman,opened the proceedings and welcomed the guests. He was followed by Mile. Susanne Deutsch de la Meurthe, thepresident of the " R.G.G.," who gave a short description One of the hangars of the "Roland Garros Groupement" at Orly. of the growth of the " Groupement " and of its presentand future plans. M. Etienne Kiche, the Under-Secretary of State for Aviation, was the next and last speaker. Heemphasised the interest that the Air Ministry took in the development of tourist aviatfon and stated that the ques-tion ol establishing additional airports and landing fields throughout France was a most essential one ; that it wasbeing carefully studied, and that he expected a plan would be announced soon. The Minister further stated that, aCommittee had been appointed with M. Louis Couhe, the Inspector-General of Commercial Aviation, as chairman, toformulate a new set of rules to govern the licensing of tourist planes. In conclusion, M. Riche expressed greatconfidence in the development of private flying, and con- gratulated the members of the Roland Garros on thesubstantial progress that they had already made. The traditional parchment, signed by prominent people present,was then placed in a tin Taox,together with some coins of 1931 " vintage," and deposited Tn a niche of the cornerstone, which was laid in place and the niche sealed up by M. Riche with a silver trowel. Among the well-known people attending the ceremonywere Colonel Antoine Brocard, chairman of the Military Aviation Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, M. LouisCouhe, Inspector-General of Commercial Aviation, M. Leon Riotor, chairman of the Aviation Committee of the Muni-cipal Council of Paris, Dr. Marie, Mayor of Orly, Henry Chollat, Secretary-General of the French Associated AeroClubs, and Mme. Jaffeux-Tissot, secretary, of the Contest Committee of the Aero Club of France. M. Louis Bleriotflew over from Suresnes in his new Bleriot Guillemen light tourist monoplane, piloted by Lucien Bossoutrot, his chiefpilot, and M. Henry Potez, president of the Aero- plane Constructors' Association, also arrived by air THE BIRTH OF THE CLUB HOUSE: On the right, M. Etienne Riche, Under Secretary of State for Air (standing beside the table), laying the corner stone of the Roland Garros Club House at Orly. On the left, Col. Andre Watteau, Vice-President of the " R.G.G." delivering the opening address. M. Riche is at his right, and MHe. Susanne Deutsch de la Meurthe (President) is in the centre (in white coat). 839
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