by Steve Mackenzie
I previously ran several articles about the Australian Air Force Cadets which is a large organisation linked to the Govt (RAAF) to give young people with an interest in aviation some training. The Australian Air League is a private youth organisation for boys and girls aged from 8 years which encourages an interest in aviation as a career or as a hobby for the youth of Australia.The organisation is entirely self-funding and is staffed by volunteers who give their time generously to achieve its goals. While nowhere near as large as the cadets, they do have several airframes marked with their logo. In addition glider training is done in conjunction with some local gliding clubs.
On 1st August 1934 the Australian Air League was incorporated as a limited liability company, with Robey, Captain Walter William Beale, OBE and five others as signatories. Soon after the Governor General, Sir Isaac Isaacs granted his patronage, and names of those prominent in the Sydney business world began to appear on the Corporate Members Register. The first training Squadron opened at Manly, New South Wales on 17 January 1935 with 30 Cadets aged between 14 and 23 years (including, of course, Keith Robey) beginning their course of training. In March 1935, Manly Branch had around 90 members, and by May that same year, Branches had also been formed at North Sydney, Mosman, Mascot, Burwood, Warringah, Randwick, Bathurst, Cootamundra and Katoomba.
It expanded greatly during WW.II having trained over 26000 members at one stage, many of which went on to serve in the RAAF. A female section was formed officially in 1944. Today the Australian Air League is a national youth organization for boys and girls from 8 years of age and over. There are currently more than 80 Squadrons active in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT and South Australia, with more Squadrons continuing to open.
There is a fairly large selection of images of the League's airframes at Jetphotos webpage (not used here).
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1. Australian Air League Officers inspect a Seagull V (A2-8) of the RAAF at the 1938 Mascot Airport Air Pagent.
2. Australian Air League Officers inspect a Seagull V of the RAAF at the 1938 Mascot Airport Air Pagent ((likely A2-8 again).
3. Cadets with aircraft.
4. Camden Australian Air League air activities centre.
5. VH-FTN a Piper Tomahawk.
6. VH-FTN b Piper Tomahawk.
7. VH-FTN c Piper Tomahawk.
8. VH-LRA Piper Cherokee Warrior.
9. VH-SOX a Cessna 152 at Camden Airport.
10. VH-SOX b Cessna 152 at Camden Airport.
11. VH-TUS Cessna 172.
12. VH-UNL a Piper Cherokee.
13. VH-UNL b Piper Cherokee.
14. VH-UNL c Piper Cherokee.
15. VH-UNL d Piper Cherokee.
16. VH-UNL e Piper Cherokee.
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