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3,500 feet, the instructor told me to tighten my seat harness. He then reduced the power of the engine and brought the nose up, so that our airspeed dropped rapidly. For a few seconds we appeared to hover in the clouds ; suddenly we lurched forward, and then turned to the right. As the aircraft spun increasingly faster, the ground below became a dull shade of khaki. When the instructor brought the plane out of its spin, I gave him my bravest smile, and secretly wondered how often I would have to go through it.
My first solo flight, after five and a half hours of flying, was probably the most thrilling thing I have ever done, or ever will do. Certainly my landing excelled my hopes, and had I not left my " flaps " down while taxi-ing back to the dispersal bay, I could have convinced myself that I had reached the highest standard in flying. Three consecutive days of studying navigation and meteorology and one hour's dual flying, sadly disillusioned me. I found that I had hardly dented the syllabus of the course.
Towards the end of my 30 hours' flying, I was taking the aircraft away for long periods on my own, practising forced landings, steep turns, stalls, and navigated flights. I even managed to spend twenty minutes over Queen Victoria School, trying to impress everyone with my flying. I found later that only one person in the School had even noticed the aircraft.
When I passed three written examinations, I was faced with my first flying test. After 50 minutes it was abandoned because of bad weather conditions. The second test saw me through. At the end of the 28 days' course, I received my Private Pilot's Licence. A. D. M. Richardson.
THE MAKING OF A PRIME MINISTER
When I leave school, I will join a Young Conservative or Labour Association. It does not particularly matter which one I join. Personal politics and beliefs do not enter into this. For obvious reasons, my ambition prevents me from joining the Liberal Party.
When I am about 27,1 shall get myself adopted as a candidate for Parliament. Assuming that I have to stand twice before being elected, I will be in Parliament by the time I am 33. As a back-bencher, I will not speak too often, and only on important subjects I know nothing about. By these means, I should be a junior under-secretary when I am 40. I shall spend several years making a name for myself and improving my connections. I may even write a column for the " Sunday Express " or " News of the World " or some such mass-circulation paper.
After one of the inevitable cabinet " reshuffles " I will be in a strong enough position to secure an important cabinet job. I rather fancy being Chancellor of the Exchequer. After two budgets designed more to further my popularity than to help the country, my party will retire from office, leaving our opponents to take the blame for the ensuing mess.
While in opposition, I will deliver my master
stroke. As the annual party conference draws near,
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I will start rumours of a leadership crisis. During the conference, the leader will be attacked by people apparently unconnected with me. The customary process of stabbing in the back all my main competitors for the leadership will be conducted with due decorum. At the end of the week, I will reluctantly have to accept the leadership, for the sake of the party and of Britain. At the next General Election, my party will be voted into power and I will be Prime Minister. If I fail in the final stage, I can always sell my view of the leadership crisis to one of the Sunday papers.
A.C.K.
ANOTHER LOOK INTO THE FUTURE
At last the letter arrived with the prospectus of Queen Victoria School. Inside was a pamphlet entitled " How to Make Sure Your Son Benefits Mankind." It was divided into two sections : one section for each grade of pupil, L.C.O.T.F. and M.L.F.T.F.
L.C.O.T.F.
(Leaders and Controllers of the Future)
At Queen Victoria School there are the best
facilities possible for ensuring that your son will become a leader or controller of a country or large business. We have the most advanced equipment for preparing your son for his purpose in life. Your son will get the benefit of the latest micro-computer which is so small it can be grafted into the brain. This computer contains all the knowledge he could possibly require, and transmits it to his brain. Scientists have been able to isolate the part of the brain which controls people's emotions and it can now be safely removed. On our staff we have Smirnoff who pioneered this branch of surgery and he takes care of all necessary brain operations.
If your son takes the L.C.O.T.F. course you will gain three credit points on your pink ration card which will enable you to buy a framed picture of the school.
M.L.F.T.F.
(Manual Labourers for the Future)
There is an ever increasing demand for manual workers from all over the world. By sending your son to us, you are assured that he is being put to the best possible use. We have all the newest drugs to build your son into a machine which will not be hindered by climate or working conditions. We have contracts with all the leading firms who ensure that after your son has completed his work-cycle he will be disposed of by the expensive disintegration method. This ensures that you will not incur a fine for polluting the earth's surface.
If your son takes this course, you will gain twelve credit points on your green ration card, which will enable you to buy an article up to the value of one thousand pounds on the gold currency system.
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