Learning to fly in 1911

[papacavy]

I am writing a short story involving Sherlock Holmes learning to fly in 1911. Can anyone who is more of a specialist in pre-World War One aviation than me tell me how one would learn to fly then? I am sure that it was usually get in, buckle up and this is what you do once, or if, you get into the air. But I want to be clear on the matter. Thanks all!

 

[Schneiderman]

Well, this isn't really the best site to ask that question. However prior to WW1 the Royal Aero Club was responsible for assessing fliers and awarding Aviators Certificates. There is a short summary here
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/taking-flight/pathway-to-pilot/royal-aero-club-aviators-certificate.aspx
and a list of Certificate holders here
http://raec.daisy.websds.net/DisplayShowCaseDocs.aspx
There were several flying schools throughout Britain most notably at Hendon, where the Graham-White company were the largest, and at Brooklands, where Vickers were based. For more details on activity at both in 1911 try searching the Flight archives
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/index.html

 

[papacavy]

Thanks all!

 

[royabulgaf]

Interesting- Conan-Doyle did a science fiction story around that time about high-altitude explorers aircraft crashing that seemed to be torn apart in midair.

 

[papacavy]

Yes, "The Horror of the Heights". I wrote an essay about how close and far off he was in his aviation predictions. It was in the book "A Study in Terror" edited by Derrick Belanger. Here is the Amazon page:

https://www.amazon.com/Study-Terror-Revolutionary-Stories-Supernatural/dp/1780926626/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1473396310&sr=8-13&keywords=Derrick+Belanger

It has been very well received.

Derrick and I are currently working on a sequel to the original short story. He's doing most of the writing, I am provided my aeronautical history expertise to the matter and writing the parts where the characters are flying. Maybe publish 2017 or 2018.