FLYING AT FORTY.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 May 1919, Page 7

FLYING AT FORTY.

SIMPLER THAN DRIVING A CAR

(By L.W., R.A.F.)

The standard lOf physical fitness required cf candidates far admission to the Royal Air Force daring the war was a very high one, and the maximum age for a would-be flying officer was fixed for 25. Even after passing the vigorous mtfdical examination mafov aspirants were turned down ion account of some physical or psychical defect . made apparent o»ly by actual flying practice, and the percentage of candidates finally accepted for active ser- ! vice was not greater than five. For that reason, people are apt to 1 conclude that the flying of an aeroplane ; requires the bedy and mind almost-of a ! superman, and that it certainly do- ■■ mands that daredevil temperament posI cessed only by young men. It must be J realised, however, that in modern war- ! fare far more was required of an acro- | plane, pilot than plain, straight-forward | flying. ! Every British pilot, before proceodI ing overseas, liad to prove himself pro- ■■ ficicnt, not only in bombing, wireless i telegraphy, formation flying, elond navigation, etc., but also in stunting. a very essential accompaniment for the air-fighter. This was the phase of warflying that so clearly required the iron nerve and fear-blindness tOf the young Briton, who from his school gymnasia and playing fields took to thi: air as naturally as a duckling takes to water. In spite of this, there were many very able and dashing pilots in the R.A.F., actively engaged on the western and other fronts wbese respective ages were well over 25. The best pilot the writer ever flew with over lines was verging towards 40, and a cooler or more daredevil man could not be found in the force. For active service this was. of course, exceptional, although it is no exaggeration to say that 50 per cent of all pilots were over 30 in the earlier days.

For ordinary peace-time flying, there should b~ no age limit at all. Flying an aeroplane is a much simpler and far less nerve-racking .business than driving a-motor car, icr sailing a yacht. Any man who has lived a decent open-air life, who has played games and hunted, will find that learning to fly, even at the age of 50, is a ridiculously easy business. A modern aeroplane will practically fly itself, and the controls are so arranged that even a man on his first trip does the right thing instinctive! v.

For ordinary flying the only necessary qualifications in eather sex are first of all good eyesight, and second a sound heart. Possessing these, there is nothing to prevent the average middle-aged man attending a flying school for a month icr so, and becoming an accomplished pilot. He wil". wonder, then." why he hesitated to "take to the air."