As they celebrate an historic milestone from their base at Sligo Airport, Strandhill, they have issued an open invitation to all to share the experience and to learn more about one of the longest established flying clubs in the country.

There has always been a close working relationship between the Aero Club and the airport and in conjunction with the forthcoming open day at the Strandhill facility on Sunday September 5th, members will be on hand to outline just what the Aero Club is all about, explain how to train to become a pilot to achieve the coveted 'first solo flight' and provide information on the aircraft used.

The family day out with a difference takes place from 12p.m. to 4.p.m. and provides an opportunity to take a tour of the airport, talk to airport staff, learn about what goes on behind the scenes-and on the evidence of a recent visit it is quite a lot -see a firefighting display, meet Aer Arann captains and crew, see the Sligo Search and Rescue Helicopter up close, meet the Search and Rescue team, talk to Usher Aviation aircraft engineers to see how aircraft are maintained and of course view the Sligo Aero Club aircraft and find out about learning to fly.

Sligo has a long tradition of aviation and the birth of the local club can be traced to the late 1960's and early 1970's. At that time a group of local flying enthusiasts took flying lessons at the nearest available airfield, Castlebar, where the Mayo Flying club was thriving.

Every weekend the group travelled to Castlebar to take their turn in the club aircraft under Chief Flying Instructor, Mr. Tom Cunniffe.

Among them were the late John Martyn, Stuart Greer and Joe Hession - with Gerry O'Hara, Vincent Raftery and Frank Sweeney still having an active interest.

John Martyn was the first pilot to qualify and as others received their private pilot's licence the focus switched to the establishment of a club in Sligo. John Martyn later became the Chief Flying Instructor of the Sligo club.

A suitable field at Annaghmore, Collooney, became the first home to the fledgling Sligo North West Aero Club where landowner, Dermot O'Hara, allowed for the development of a grass strip and a small hangar.

It is widely accepted that without Mr. O'Hara's assistance it is doubtful if aviation in Sligo would ever have got off the ground.

The first aircraft bought by the club as a French Rallye 150, EI-AYV-which cost £3,000 early in 1975 and was funded by a whiparound among the members.

The new Aero Club generated considerable interest and members who flew in Annaghmore recall a constant line of cars along the boundary fence as the occupants looked on.

Accommodation was provided in an engine-less bus and instruction was by Enda Burns, one of the club's founder members. The first Chief Flying Instructor was Ian Swales of Dundalk.

The success of the venture meant that the need of a full-size airport quickly became a priority and the site at Kilaspugbrone was selected with the help of member Enda Burns and in 1978 the area of the runway was levelled and graded to provide a grass strip for the very modest sum of €13,000.

In that summer, the club moved to Strandhill and ironically access to the field was by the Walker's Lodge Road and involved the opening and closing of several gates!

Until 1980 there was no State aid or coherent licensing procedures for small airports but when Government policy changed and with EEC funding available, Sligo was in a position to benefit because of the foresightedness of private individuals and the fact that a de facto airport was operating for five years.

In the course of developing the Finisklin Industrial Estate, meanwhile, IDA Executives and potential industrialists locating in

Sligo came to rely on Strandhill's grass airport and its importance to the community and the region was not lost.

And, The County Development Team had also strived valiantly to get assistance for the private developers between 1976 and 1980, without success, but under the new grants available they succeeded in negotiating substantial funds.

The joint local authorities also contributed and the local community subscribed €70,000,

At the time the Minister imposed two conditions on grant approval, that the Sligo community subscribe at least €60,000 and the joint local authorities would become shareholders to the value of their contribution to the issued share capital.

Therefore, because of the vision and acumen of private promoters in 1976 and the professional expertise of the County Development Team , the County Council Engineers and Administrators, and the overwhelming generosity and support of the Sligo community, the airport was now firmly established.

Sligo airport - with a new 1200m tarmac runway and terminal building - was officially opened in 1983 and the Aero Club and its 'home' continue to be mutually supportive to each other.

As they both prepare to host next month's open day the contrast to the era of the 'close the gate' signs is immense.

Sligo airport has a modern terminal building with an Air Traffic Control tower and there are now four hangars on site, one of them housing the Aero Club's fleet, which consists of three Cessna training aircraft, a C172 fourseater and two C152's, two-seater and a number of privately owned aircraft.

The airport is also the important base for the Irish Coastguard Search & Rescue helicopter.

The Aero Club Cessna type aircraft are used more than any other aircraft for training pilots.

Membership is open to all persons fifteen years and over and at present there are sixty members of the club.

The club is a non-profit making organisation and therefore costs are confined to actual operating costs. For legal reasons the club is a limited company and operates as a member owned club, with no remuneration to directors, flight instructors or committee members.

There are four instructors at the club, John Curran, (Chief Flying Instructor) Gerry O'Hara, Ken O'Brien and Fidelma Mulligan - who began her training at Sligo and who is now an Aer Arann pilot. Club member Mark McDaid , a qualified Airline Transport Pilot, is currently training to be an instructor and also delivers ground lectures.

In order to formally begin training it is necessary to become a member of the club. The annual membership fee is €250 and a typical lesson consists of both ground and flying instruction, the total duration about one hour. This includes about thirty minutes actual flying time and pre/post briefings of about fifteen minutes each. These briefings are free of charge and the typical costs per half-hour lesson is €70 for the Cessna 152 or €85 for the Cessna 172.

Many former trainees at Sligo have gone on to work with Aer Lingus, Aer Arann, Ryan Air and other airlines such as Thomas Cook and Easy Jet.

It takes about ten hours of instruction before a pilot reaches the goal of his or her first 'solo flight' and further instruction continues thereafter. This includes more advanced exercises until the pilot has completed a minimum of 45 hours, during which all sections of the training syllabus are covered.

Sunday, September 5th, is an ideal opportunity to sample just what the Aero Club has to offer and Chairman, Ben Healy, is encouraging everyone to visit the airport on the day.

"There is an open invitation for all to come out and see just what we are all about," he said.

The Aero Club contact no. is 087 293 2884 and information can also be accessed on websites - www.sligoaeroclub.com or www.sligoairport.com.

- MICHAEL MORAN