History:
In the Fall of 2005, several MIT students banded together to start a new club at MIT dedicated solely
to flying. However, given MIT's strong association with the field of aeronautics, it's no surprise
that some sort of flying club has been around since nearly the beginning of aviation.
The first mention of an MIT flying club appears in the Tech in
the late 1920s. The "Technology Flying Club", as it was
known at the time, purchased its first plane in 1927, despite delays in
being recognized as an organization by the institution. This
was to be the first of many obstacles this club--and MIT flying clubs
in general--would face. Members were often accused of
neglecting their studies to focus on flying, and in 1929, the club was
forced to disband due to a number of near-accidents and high expenses.
However, by 1932, interest in a reformed flying club was
sparked when Elmer Wiggins '05, president of Wiggins Airways
offered to solo every member of the club for $50, regardless of the
hours necessary. Members traveled to Wiggins Field--
now Norwood Airport--to fly Stinson monoplanes, Spartan biplanes,
Taylor Cub, Fairchild. Yet despite Wiggins success in encouraging
aviation at MIT, the club was forced to fold, only to be replaced
several years later by the Back Bay Flying Club.
Interest in flying reached its peak in the late
1940s. Once again known as the Technology Flying Club,
student members
flew an Aeronca, a Cessna 120, and several Cessna 140s. The
club, stationed alternatively at Beverly and Bedford Airports, charged
$3.20-$3.60 an hour for flying lessons, and held an airshow in 1949
with a group of Corsairs and a Hellcat. Later that year, two
pilots,
in an effort to attract new members, attempted to drop leaflets upon
incoming Freshmen announcing the club.
Despite these successes, the club once again took an extended
break in the early 50s, as nothing is mentioned of a flying club until
1958. Again, the club had moderate success, purchasing a
Cessna 140 as well as a new Cessna 172. Another iteration of
the club appeared in 1965, but not much is known of it, or of
variations of flying clubs that appeared in the 40 years between 1965
and 2005.
If you have any information you think would be relevant for this section of the website, feel free to email
.
