The London Transport Flying Club

A 'London General Omnibus Company' busman's joyride flight over London was organised by driver E. Godwin. The flight took place on 11th February in an Armstong Whitworth Argosy II from Imperial Airways.

Hoping to copy the success of other The London General Omnibus Company Sports Clubs, who took advantage of the scale of its captive audience, an aircraft was loaded onto the back of a lorry and paraded around 48 LGOC garages to drum up interest.

As a result, 1500 LGOC employees joined, the club paying 6d a week, making it the largest flying club in the world. The London General Omnibus Company Sports Association Flying Club was officially inaugurated at The Feathers Hotel, Westminster, on the 24th June.

The Club purchased a Robinson Redwing G-ABMV plus several Moth Majors including G-ADAN and G-ACCX. Flying cost 8s an hour. The Club formerly opened on the 17th September 1931 at Broxbourne Aerodrome, Hertfordshire, where Lt Col Moore-Brabazon performed the opening ceremony

The Club celebrated it's 2000 flight. It's fleet grew to include a Robinson Redwing G-ABMV, DH60G Gipsy Moths G-AARC and G-AAZR, an Acro 626 G-AAYV, a DH60M Metal Moth G-ACGX, DH60G Moth Majors G-ACBX , G-ADAN and G-ADAT.

Under a Parliamentary Act, every bus route/company and underground railway became state owned and named 'London Passenger Transport Board'. Thus the Flying club then became the 'London Passenger Transport Board (Central Area Sports Association) Flying Club'.

With the outbreak of war, civil flying ceased and the club aircraft were reassigned to the RAF. None of them survived, however, the club itself continued.

After the war, Broxbourne was unavailable, so took a lease on an old dispersal hut vacated by the RAF No18 Elementary Flying Training School at Fairoaks. The club was offered a DH82A Tiger Moth G-AIIZ for a very nominal price from the MOD.

The Club was one of the first flying clubs to reopen once the ban on civil aviation was lifted. The club was reopened by Lord Ashfield, the Chairman of London Transport.

Ted Baker became the clubs CFI and remained so for many years.

The club was offered another DH82A Tiger Moth G-AIJA from the MOD.

The 'London Transport Executive' came into effect during the early 1950's and the flying club became the 'London Transport (Central Area Sports Association) Flying Club'.

Auster Autocrat purchased

Silver Jubilee Dinner!

Tiger Moth G-ANDV was retired from service. It was later sold to comedian Dick Emery, who reportedly crashed the aircraft on takeoff during a Royal Aeronautical Society centenary display at Wisley in 1966.

A third Tiger Moth, G-ANDV was purchased together with an Auster J/1 Alpha G-AJAC and a Piper PA-22 Colt G-ASSE which performed as the clubs basic trainer for many years.

Piper PA28-140 Cherokees G-AXII and G-AVLU purchased.

Chief flying instructor Ted Baker retires with 11,000 flying hours with the club.

BBC Nationwide programme filmed G-AVLU at Fairoaks. At this time, the club had 2000 members paying a subscription of 3p per week. Flying rates were £4.20 per hour.

The Tiger Moth G-AIIZ was sold and replaced with a Piper Cherokee 140, G-AXTI.

Privatisation of London Transport begins

The London Transport Sports Association proposed closing the club, but instead the members took it over and the London Transport Flying Club Limited was formed. The aircraft bought from the Central Sports Association for £1 each.

Club aircraft are repainted and re-registered, G-AXTI as G-LTFC and G-AVLU as G-LTFB

Piper Warrior G-BSBA purchased.

G-LTFB is sold and the club is back to 2 aircraft.

To aid cashflow in difficult economic times, G-LTFC was sold to Falcon Flight Services and leased back

G-LTFC leaves the club on 20 July, destined for a new home in Bristol.

A deposit is placed on a Polish Aero AT3, to be registered as G-LGOC

75th anniversary celebrations took place on 17 September.

G-BUJO in it's blue and white livery

LTFC hosts 'Surrey Day' with BBC Radio Surrey broadcasting the event live from the clubhouse