PLANE TALK - JIM DAVIS
FLYING CLUBS A little while ago a gloomy bunch on interweb forum www.avcom.co.za declared, seemingly with some pleasure, that flying clubs were a thing of the past. I’m delighted to tell you they are wrong - many are thriving and new ones are popping up here and there. FLYING CLUBS ARE THE HEART for GA’s fun fliers. If they are well run they set the culture for the pilots and the tone for the industry. Unfortunately, that’s a big IF. I’ll tell you a bit later about the things that can go wrong. But first let’s look at their anatomy, and see why they exist, and how they work. Perhaps the reason that many are thriving right now is partly as a reaction to Covid’s social distancing, and partly because of the antisocial atmosphere at the big flying schools. Or maybe it’s because of the affordability of little floppy aeroplanes.
trees waving gently in the cooling breeze. The weather couldn’t be better – and there are no mosquitos. Now think of something that you really, really want a mansion with spectacular gardens, fountains, French antique furniture, Persian carpets and Rembrandts on the walls. Or would you prefer a Ferrari or Maserati that never needs maintenance, and the Nürburgring to play with? How about a Lear jet with unlimited fuel? If you are into photography, have the ultimate camera and lenses. You fancy skiing? Boom - there you have it - a snow covered mountain with perfect slopes. You want a yacht? Will Onassis’s one, Christiana, be okay for you?
– and t he r e ar e no mos quitos
Actually I think it’s quite simple - the bottom line is that us humans are far more dependent on socializing than we like to admit. Somerset Maugham put it neatly into a nutshell when he said, “…pleasures are only pleasures because they are enjoyed in common.” I reckon he got it right.
You need a little convincing? Then help me with mind experiment - welcome to Jim’s Magic Island. This is a place where everything is perfect. It’s a beautiful, lush, tropical island with pristine white beaches and palm
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July 2021
On this Magic Island, you can have whichever one of these wonders you want. There’s only one snag - there’s no one else there, and there never will be. You have no contact with the rest of the world, and neither your yacht nor your aeroplane can get to outside civilizations. So you can live in the mansion, or sail your yacht, or drive your fancy car round the race track, or fly your ideal aeroplane, or ski those glistening slopes as much as you like, but remember there’s no one to share your fun, or admire your skills. And there’s not
