Initially concerned more with ballooning, as opposed to heavier-than-air flight, the Aero Club was founded in 1901. By the time that the club was granted its Royal prefix on 15 February 1910, it had developed into more of a regulatory role. Indeed, from that year the Royal Aero Club (RAeC) was responsible for issuing Aviator’s Certificates, these being internationally recognised under the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, of which the Club was the UK representative.
The importance of the RAeC following the outbreak of war in 1914 cannot be over-emphasised. Its members included – and trained – most of Britain’s military pilots up to 1915, when military schools became established. Indeed, by the Armistice in 1918 more than 6,300 military pilots had obtained RAeC Aviator’s Certificates. Such was the importance attached to these certificates that until as late as 1917 it remained a requirement that a pilot had to hold a RAeC Aviator’s Certificate prior to being granted a commission in the Royal Flying Corps or Royal Naval Air Service.
To obtain an Aviator’s Certificate, or ‘ticket’ as it was widely known, a prospective pilot was required to complete three separate, solo, test flights, all of which …
