"A VERY GOOD IDEA"

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 31, 7 February 1933, Page 9

"A VERY GOOD IDEA"

AVIATION SCHOLARSHIP

" SMITHY " ENTHUSIASTIC

TROPHY FOE CLUB

Though he haa a lot of work ahead Sir Charles Kingsford Smith spent some time at the Bongotai Aerodrome this morning talking with a batch of entrants for the "Evening Post" Aviation Scholarship, for after" a full week of bad weather there was this morning quite a gathering of young men and women waiting to go up with Squadron Leader Stcdman on their first test flights. ' V • Incidentally, Sir Charles took over secretarial duties long entmgh to'sign up ten new competitors, quite a fair morning's tally, in just about ton minutes. "The idea of this scholarship is a very bright one," he said, "for it gives many young people a chance to satisfy themselves either that they can make a real fist of flying, or that the, talent they feel sure they possess is somehow lacking. Generally you will find that if a young fellow is keen on flying he has a more, or less natural ajftitude. In the twenty minutes air test that talent will make itself shown quite plainly to a good instructor; The fee is' reasonable, and whoever wins the scholarship is going to have a very good pound's .worth indeed." ' ''■■-." The plan had worked very well in Victoria, where f 350 pupils had gone through- the test;, and also in Brisbane, where.well over 150 young people had entered, he said, and, as was anticipated by the promoters of the competitions, .§. considerable proportion of the eh-, trants had come througn the tests remarkably promisingly, and a large number had decided to carry on with the training after the close of the competition. Considering the ' much, smaller population here the number of competitors was surely>very satisfactory. WILL READILY ASSIST. Sir Charles "was communicated with by the officials of the Wellington Aero Club prior to his leaving Sydney, and asked whether he wouia be willing to assist in the final stages of the competition. He answered that he would be only too pleased to do so, but that as it was not possible to make any detailed arrangements from Sydney they could be left till he reached Wellington. The pian was that he should give the scholarship winner his first dual lesson after the. close Qf the general competition. To-day Sir Charles said that that plan would probably stand, but it depended, of course, upon how the" itinerary worked out now that it had been upset by the mishap to the Southern Cross at Palmerston North. "It is an excellent scheme, from the point of view of the flying pupil, the Aero Club, and the public" generally, for it is as good a form of air publicity as you can have, and if lican help in any way. I shalj be only too pleased to do so," he remarked. TROPHY FOB WINNER. . Sir Charles drew the secretary of the club, Mr.. A; W. Nisbet, and Squadron Leader Stedman to one side and talked for a few minutes.' That talk was fur T ther solid proof of his interest in the competition and his desire to encourage young people to take up flying, for he stated that ho would donate a trophy of the value of £10, to be awarded to the" winner ;of ' the "scholarshipj : the trophy to revert to the club after twelve months, and .thereafter to bo offered for annual competition. ; The scholarship" competition, is to close on 25th February, and as there appears to be a very lively interest, intending entrants are advised to make known early the dates on which they wish to go through their first tests. ••' OUTLINE OF COMPETITION. The competition is open to all British subjects over seventeen years of age, but those under .twenty-one years? of age are required to supply the consent of _ their parents or guardians. A detailed record of the performance of each competitor is Kept, and when the first stage of the competition closes the six entrants having most points will be taken up for further tests and final selection.

_ The winner will then be given further instruction until he or she.qualifies for the full "A" pilot's licence, as well as being awarded the Kingsford Smith Trophy and admitted to full club membership. All entrants are given associate club membersJ privileges till tho end of the club yoar. in June.