Aero club celebrates 80th birthday

Become a pilot prize on offer

BY SABRINA DANKEL - THE WELLINGTONIAN

Wellington's Aero Club is giving away $5000 worth of flight training to celebrate its 80th anniversary.

New Zealanders aged 16 and older are being given the chance to win a scholarship of $5000 worth of training or one of the three secondary prizes, each worth $1000.

The first prize package includes 20 hours of flight training, a hard cover pilot log book, two flight training manuals, one Tomahawk training manual and a Wellington Aero Club membership.

Applicants have to sign up for a $99 trial flight and complete a short quiz to qualify for the competition that runs until February 28.

Candidates will be rated on a number of attributes, including enthusiasm, attitude, control skills in flight, English and listening ability.

The winners will be announced at the club's aviation open day on March 27. This is part of the club's 80th anniversary celebrations.

In September 1928 Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm flew across the Tasman and then realised they could not land in Wellington because there was no airfield. They had to fly on to Wigram.

Wellington City Council realised the need for an airfield and made plans to build one at Rongotai.

Wellington mayor George Troup, and the director of the first air board, Major Tim Wilkes, asked Smith whether Rongotai was suitable for developing as an airfield.

With Smith's approval, the council made a vacant area of 27 acres available and work began on the Rongotai airfield.

In a public meeting attended by more than 100 people, it was agreed to form an aero club in Wellington to provide flight services for the city.

By the time the club was set up in 1929, Wellington Aero Club had a strong membership, but hardly any equipment.

"The first aeroplane was given to the club by Blundell brothers, owners of The Evening Post, and later another one was given by the Government," said Wellington Aero Club secretary Tony Rollason.

Training with a 100 horsepower Simmonds Spartan biplane started on February 20, 1930.

Shortly afterwards, an air ambulance service was established.

During World War II, the club premises were taken over by the Defence Department.

"But we got it back after the war," Mr Rollason said.

Today the club has about 200 members and specialises in flight instructions, offers flight training and aircraft hire seven days a week.

The club is a member of the Royal New Zealand Aero Club, a network of 40 aero clubs.