HOW TO JOIN THE FLYING MEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2676, 24 January 1916, Page 9

HOW TO JOIN THE FLYING MEN

BRITISH COMMISSIONS, A number of enthusiastic aviators or prospective aviators have left Australia for England during the past few months in the hope of joining one of the Imperial air services, while tho Royal Australian Flying School at Laverton, in Victoria, is also training men a 5 pilots and mechanics. It is announced that a squadron may shortly go to the old country, and, though officers and men may have qualified here, it is more than likely that they will first of all he drafted to one or other of the British training grounds for a final polish.

With regard to the Boyal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps, it is often said that tlie commissioned ranks of both corps are now being filled by officers from other regiments or from the navy respectively, and that commissions are no longer given to civilians, whatever their qualifications. This, according to an Imperial authority, is not correct. While it is true that the waiting lists for both services ■certainly are lengthy, it must also be borne in mind that these services are Very rapidly expanding, and that the number of pilots needed, if not at the moment, at any rate in the very near future, can hardly be found, otherwise than from- civilian sources, so that it may be taken that suitable civilians have every chance of becoming service pilots. These appointments are the most sought after in the sorvice, and, for tho benefit of those who possess nervous female relations;. it might be stated that a flying service commission is not a death warrant. On the contrary, one often hoars of officers in Slying corps state that "nothing would induce them to risk their lives in the I trenches."

There is also a- widely prevalent idea that if a man goes home with a pilot's certificate he has only to call at tho Admiralty or the War Office in order to be commissioned right away. This also is incorrect. .The possession of a ticket is not by any means tie sole passport to the service. In the past a good number of enthusiasts have fallen into the error of believing this U bo the case, and have in consequence spent a good deal of money upon learning to fly, only to find, when.'they have done so, that they were in some way or other unsuitcd for commissioned rank.

The authorities state that tlie best type of man acceptable to tho Hying services js tho medbaiTicaJly-incluied sportsman. Ho must be, of course, physically fit; in particular, his eyesight must be beyond reproach. The sort of man that is needed is one who, in tiha days prior to the war, .was not afraid' to drive highpowered cars and motor cycles at excessive speed's, He must bo able to keep his head and to act quickly in all emergencies, and ought to possess mecbani. cal aptitude, combined with a knowledge of petrol engines. Horsemen, it is stated, make excellent pilots, which accounts for the fact that Australians always seem to do well wihen they take up aviation.

In tho case of a man with a ticket wishing to join the Royal Naval Aviation School, application must be made to the Director, Air Department, Admiralty, Whitehall, S.W., and should be by letter, as personal interviews are not granted except by_ appointmont. A form of application for a commission will then be sent, and wihen that has been filled in and returned the candidate will be instructed to appear before the Selection Board at the Admiralty. If the board decides in his favour he will have to undergo a medical examination and a searihing eyesight test. If successful he will be granted a probationary commission at once, and sent to one of the naval training schools, receiving a £10 kit allowance and 10s. a day. To obtain a commission in the Royal Flying Corps the applicant fills in the ordinary form of application for a commission as used' in the regular army. This may be obtained from the War Offico or 'any officer commanding a unit at home. When the form is filled in it should be forwarded to jlie Director of Military Aeronautics, War Office, "Whitehall, S.W., who will then request tho candidate to call for a personal interview. If he is particularly lucky he may get appointed at once or sent to a military flying cdliool for instruction. His pay while on probation is at the rate of 16s. 6d. a da};, and, if granted a permanent commission, will also receive a £7-5 allowance to cover his expenses in learning to fly when his commission is confirmed.