Irene Handl Learns To Fly

Jul. 07, 1968 - Irene Handl Learns To Fly: Actress Irene Handl, 67, went to an aerodrome yesterday, to start training for a 3, 500 mile air race. Irene, appearing in the West End show my Giddy Aunt was starting lessons at Elstree aerodrome in Hertfordshire. She plans to have a lesson a week for the next six months before taking part in the Daily Mail transatlantic air race from London to New York. The idea started as a joke at a dinner party in Irene's London flat to celebrate record bookings for the show. Director Wally Douglas was one of the group teasing her about being a real giddy aunt and quipped: you'll be taking up flying next, love. Ray Cooney, one the show's writers, added and taking part in the transatlantic air race. The joke got Irene thinking and next day she shocked them by announcing she was going to learn to fly. She said: I thought it would be a challenge. Two men have sailed around the world so I decided I would fly the Atlantic. She added: I could even fly with a bucked and mop and be know as the flying char'. It was too windy for her to go on her trial flight yesterday in a Piper Commanche plane. But she sat in one of the flying school's Tiger Moths. complete with helmet and goggles - and had the controls explained to her. Her instructor at the London School of Flying is 48 year old Alfred Westaway, a wartime flying teacher on Spitfires. Among his past pupils have been Dick Emery and Janette Scott. He said of Irene: She shows a good aptitude for flying and is completely unafraid. She will need 36 hours flying to get a private licence and if all goes well I can't see anything to stop her flying to New York. The school will make available a twin engine Commanche with extra fuel tanks fitted for the race and will provide a navigator pilot to accompany her. While being shown the controls Irene came out with a true Mrs. Mopp question: where is the steering and the thing that makes it go up and down. She said afterwards: This is not a gimmick, . I am really serious about taking part in this race. Ray Conney said:'Irene certainly called my bluff. The management of the show is going to pay all expenses of the training and race. Photo shows Irene Handl complete with the helmet and goggles in the plane yesterday

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Accompany Added Aerodrome Afterwards Announcing Anything Appearing Aptitude Aunt Available Bluff Bookings Bucked Cant Certainly Commanche Completely Controls Decided Elstree Expenses Explained Extra Fitted Giddy Gimmick Handl Hertfordshire Idea Instructor Joke Learn Learns Lesson Lessons Licence Management Mopp Moths Navigator Need Provide Pupils Question Really Sailed Shocked Spitfires Starting Steering Teasing Transatlantic Unafraid Wally Windy Youll

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