Free Flights for 10,000 Children

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 643, 20 April 1929, Page 18

Free Flights for 10,000 Children

Cobham’s New Venture DURING a tour of Great Britain, which Sir Alan Cobham will undertake this year, free flights in a big air liner will be given to 10,000 children.

An anonymous donor will defray the expenses of the children’s trips. It is hoped that this idea will teach the youth of Britain “airmindedness.” Sir Alan speaks enthusiastically of the project. “These flights,” he says, “will be undertaken in addition to my original plan of taking up Mayors and chairmen of chambers of commerce In the various towns. Teachers at the schools will be given an opportunity of accompanying the children. There will be 1,000 places for teachers.

“The idea is to stimulate the boys’ and girls’ ambition and to teach them ‘airmindedness.’

“I shall carry out the flights in my large air liner, which will be called the Spirit of Adventure. Every landing ground will be licensed by the Air Ministry and every precaution will be taken in the interests of safety. "No stunts will be indulged in. The children, who will be over 13 and will be chosen by the local education authority from the elementary and secondary schools, will be carried with their parents’ consent.

“Flying has now become part of everyone’s education, and it is essential that children should get the airman’s vision.

"The future of Britain depends greatly on our position as a flying nation, and as the coming generation has our future in its hands, we must give them the opportunity of seeing something of their country from above and getting fresh ideas on the real meaning of geography. “Once in the air everything on the ground looks small and insignificant by comparison