| Getting a pilot's licence is one of life's major events -
after hours of angst and study, your licence arrives in the post and you are free. You can climb into a aeroplane and go anywhere (nearly) you wish. Learning isn't that cheap, and it can bring pupils endless frustrations. "I can manage everything but the last five feet" and "I was right over the airfield and I still couldn't see it" are sentences often heard in clubhouses. But perseverance always pays off, and when the course is completed it is indeed one of life's great moments. That lunch in Le Touquet you always dreamt of is only an hour and twenty minutes away from Fairoaks. LTFC isn't a flying school, but a flying club. The difference is that a flying school is a lot like a driving school - turn up, do the lesson with a staff instructor, and go home. At LTFC you could do the same thing because the PPL course is just the same, but you'll probably find a few people hanging around to chat with, and then a few hours might just slip by before you notice..... Our club has no staff instructors, just part time volunteers. This doesn't mean they're less qualified - they have to pass the CAA exams and checks - but they are part time and have other full time jobs. The pupil pays less, but has to put more effort into arranging their training - and maybe volunteers to help out here and there. Many many people have got their licences at clubs like LTFC. LTFC is a place to learn and enjoy flying - or you can go to the clubhouse and just sit and chat. Drink tea or coffee, have a barbeque in summer, and enjoy the company of other people who love flying. More about learning here.... In 1933 The London General Omnibus Company Flying Club (later LTFC) printed a diary for its members. Here's a page. What Chief Instructor Mr D Kinnear said then hasn't aged even though it's three quarters of a century old. Click on the picture for full size -  |
 |