Flying for Fun

Had your fill of driving and sailing? Then it’s time to head skywards.

- CHARMIAN LEONG

Since Singapore barely has enough roads for supercars and their clubs to enjoy, one might be forgiven for assuming flying around here as a hobby would be difficult. But the reality is that there is a thriving community of passionate aviators in, around, and beyond the region, thanks to flying clubs that offer lessons and arrange group trips, as well as organise monthly brunches and trivia nights.

“The community is quite adventurous and down-to-earth,” says Anne Wong, head of public relations at Tin Box Group and a member of WOA Flying Club by WingsOverAsia. “Lots of people think we’re flying in luxurious private jets, but that’s not what it’s like at all. There’s no champagne and, most of the time, there’s no air-conditioning. It’s more like driving an antique car.”

It’s not so much the extravagance of flying that thrills airborne hobbyists as it is the feeling of freedom and control. Jason Bay, a fellow WOA member, who is also a race car and technical diving enthusiast, believes it’s all about the man-to-machine interface. “In all three of my hobbies, I rely heavily on the contraption to accomplish things that would not otherwise be possible. The machine becomes an extension of my body,” he offers. The concept of self-responsibility, he adds, is also never more apparent than when you’re flying solo. “It’s not about pleasing your instructor or making a perfect landing. It’s about your will to live.”

We speak to three more pilots about how they come alive when they take to the skies.

ROCH HENNESSY