The Early Days
Compiled from the memories of John Lobley
When it was suggested to me that B.O.A.C. should have a Flying Club, it seemed a hollow idea, not surprisingly since we had no members, no aircraft, no airfield and no money! After a whip-round for cash, we decided to target Government surplus aeroplanes, available at virtually scrap market prices from Government Disposal Depots. We were shown hundreds of redundant training aircraft at Croydon and to our delight, we found that a number of these 'rejects' were virtually new. We selected a dozen aircraft and were able to purchase them at literally a few pounds each. We then hired transport lorries and sent four aircraft each to Hurn, Whitchurch and White Waltham.
There was no difficulty in recruiting potentially enthusiastic Club Members to select three aircraft for assembly and modification in preparation for gaining Certificates of Airworthiness. We offered flying hours in return for contributions, while volunteers bought their own fuel and made appropriate subscriptions to Club funds.
We set about obtaining registration for our surplus aircraft which we then sold overseas at considerable profit! In the first of these overseas adventures I flew a chipmunk aircraft to Nigeria, and then one to the Persian Gulf and later one to Baghdad, where we sold them at top market prices, thus establishing a development fund for the local Club.
A substantial enquiry occurred about 1950 when we were approached by Deutsche Lufthansa who were anxious to set up a Flying Club at Hamburg and asked if we would give them assisstance. I told them that they would have to seek approval from B.O.A.C. who subsequently gave them 'best wishes' but no financial support. Accordingly, a Club was formed at Bremen, later moving to Hamburg, whith the support of German Government finance. Ex-Luftwaffe pilots soon joined in and they had no difficulty in forming a Club based on our own rule book. I stayed several times in a German airfield dormitory but was kept awake at night by ex-Luftwaffe pilots running up and down the passages and shouting - apparently on the instructions of the Doctors assisting them to shake off their wartime flying experiences!
Later, but not on a substantial basis, we supplied to newly emerging Flying Clubs in Baghdad and Kuwait. At home on a similar basis we had small Clubs at Whitchurch and Croydon, finally consolidating our base at the present field near High Wycombe - convenient for London Airport.
Fly the DHC-1 Chipmunk today
Airways Flying Club operate a de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk today which is available for advanced aerobatic training and for short gift flights. Our Chipmunk had an illustrious military career before retiring from the Army Air Corps at Middle Wallop in 1997 and joining us at The Airways Flying Club.
The Classic Gift Flight gives you the opportunity to undertake a flying lesson as it would have been experienced in the early 50's. While the Classic Plus Gift Flight allows the more adventurous to experience aerobatic maneuvres such as the Barrel Roll and Loop. Find out more and buy online now.
