Off to a Flying Start: Ca. 1930
In May 1927, Charles Lindbergh realigned the world's
imagination with his history-making nonstop flight across the Atlantic.
At Le Bourget Field near Paris, amid an ecstatic crush of well-wishers,
the age of the aviator-a new heroic age-began in earnest.
Suddenly, dashing young men everywhere knew exactly what they wanted to
do: hurtle through the air. And, down on terra firma, what figure they
wanted to cut: a jaunty one, standing next to their "ship." Borne
by the exhilaration of the moment, the Northeastern University Flying Club
burst from the egg.
And wasted no time growing real Northeastern wings. By 1928, the club's
determined efforts to buy its own plane were in full swing. Members raised
enough money to cover the financing of the plane, which was delivered during
the summer of 1929.
Each club member had to promise that he or someone he knew would buy at
least $100 worth of flying time. Both instruction and solo flights cost
members $10 per hour.
A couple of constraints applied. First, the Flying Club was open only to
men. Second, no young hero-to-be was allowed up in the clouds without a
certain very important document-the written consent of his parents.
Dues paid, permissions received, the original "flying N" was
soon spotted knifing through Boston skies, on the tail of a proud, fully
Northeastern airship.