THESE days seeing youngsters onboard a plane may be nothing unusual, but it was in the 1930s. Powered flight had only been conquered three decades before, Imperial Airways was Britain's only international airline and it took a full eight days to arrive in Singapore.

Hardly ideal for children.

Nor was flying cheap. Tickets to the Far East cost about £11,000 in today's money, but in June 1932 six year old Tom Cunliffe jumped at the chance to experience the high life when his dad stumbled across a more affordable option.

York Press:

Tom Cunliffe then................

York Press:

..............and now, aged 90. Picture: Matt Clark

They went to see the legendary Alan Cobham's flying circus at Yeadon Airport, where, for the princely sum of five bob, passengers were invited to get airborne with one of the greatest aviation pioneers.

But being six Tom had no idea who he was and certainly wasn't afraid of driving a hard bargain with him.

"My friend Leslie came along as well," says Tom. "So I pestered the pilot until he agreed to fly us both for five shillings."

In later life Tom spent a while in accountancy. Seems like he was born to it.

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Aviation pioneer Sir Alan Cobham.

"The flight didn't last long, just a circuit to land," says Tom. "I wasn't scared, just really excited looking out for landmarks that I recognised like The Chevin."

But it would be another 60 years before Tom discovered the identity of his 'chauffeur'.

"I found this book on the history of Leeds Bradford Airport," he says. "One page said: 'In June 1932 Alan Cobham made a return visit to Yeadon and brought his famous flying circus'.

"I thought that's when I went up."

Another thing the book told him was that the aircraft had been an Airspeed AS-4 Air Ferry built at the former Reynards Garage on Piccadilly in York.

Built in 1921 as a bus and trolley shed, the building was leased ten years later to Airspeed, the aircraft manufacturing company founded by novelist Nevil Shute with Amy Johnson as a board members and Cobham an early customer "As far as I'm aware only four of the AS-4s were built," says Tom. "Then the other day I saw a photo of one in The Press with an article about the factory being knocked down. I thought good grief that's the plane I flew in."

The bug obviously bit because Tom went on to join the air cadets when he was 17. Another surprise he discovered in the book was the name of Capt H V Worrall, chief pilot at the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club who took up G-ABSI, the first Airspeed AS-4 Ferry, for its maiden flight.

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The first Airspeed AS-4 Ferry takes to the skies.

"I flew with him as a cadet in an Avro Anson, then went on to take my flying exams in Doncaster and passed them."

Being too young to volunteer as aircrew, Tom he wore a white flash in his uniform cap which signified he was ready to enlist.

But it wasn't to be. Icarus-like, Tom's wings were soon and unceremoniously clipped.

"One day I got a letter saying they didn't want any more pilots, but I could join the army or go down the mines. There was no way I was going to do that, so I decided on the army."

  •  Sir Alan Cobham learned to fly with the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. He continued his love of aviation as a barnstormer before joining de Havilland in 1921 where he became the company's chief test pilot and delivery ferry pilot.
  • In 1924 Cobham entered and won the King's Cup Air Race, for which he was awarded one of his three Royal Aero Club Gold Medals. He then flew a DH-50 float plane completely around the African continent landing only in British territories, for which he was knighted.
  • Cobham left de Havilland in 1927 and formed his own company, National Aviation Day, moving from airfield to airfield, giving joy rides to local passengers in a variety of aircraft. These flying tours were known as Sir Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus and proved a source of inspiration for many Second World War pilots.

All Airspeed photographs courtesy Yorkshire Air Museum.