199something? ..... our first pilot.............................

Although in the "extended family" Paul Horrocks was the first to qualify as a pilot (in the late 60s perhaps), the first ever Hutton was Martin.

In fact he did it twice. The story is his and he could/should/will tell it far better, here it is from my viewpoint.

The "why" of his first flying course I don't know. Perhaps to qualify him for the second? Anyway to Shearwater (near Dartmouth) he did go and proceeded to take lessons. He seemed to enjoy it, how could he not? ........ he should be telling this, not me! .........

In due course he soloed, did his cross-country and all the mysterious things that new pilots do and, on one proud day, he got his licence. Single-engined, fixed-wing, VFR. In a Cessna?

Greater things were to follow. His father-in-law-to-be, Bill Burtt, was a chopper pilot with Nova Scotia Lands and Forest Department in Shubenacadie. Martin got endless flights with him and no doubt the bug bit.

Anyhow, suddenly it seemed, Martin was to go to Gander (or was it Goose Bay?) to learn to fly helicopters. A seemingly enormous bank loan was required. Bill and I went good for that.

Seemingly the helicopter company, rather than have aircraft and pilots idle during the winter,
gave training. Martin loved it. Must have been wonderful thrill.

Despite passing and emerging with a commercial helicopter pilot's license "things" weren't to work out. Nobody wanted pilots with "zero" hours - no doubt the military produce more than enough experienced men. Seemingly endless applications and enquiries, literally all over the world, produced no job. In the end the inevitable was accepted and he abandoned the dream.

There had been no promise of a job at the end of the course! Bill with his experience and savvy in the industry should perhaps have forseen it. I too should have asked more questions.

Now Martin and Trish were saddled with this monster loan. Somehow they paid it off.

Philosphically, maybe, just maybe it was worth it. It was after all a wonderful experience; the sensations, the excitement, the scenery. He could do it and he did do it. All these years later though, it seems such a sad end to such a magic dream.

Sadly, no pictures to commemorate the saga.

A strange little scene sticks in my mind. That of Glennys heading off by Air Nova, Dash 8 for Gander (or Goose) with a huge bag of food for Martin. She delivered it to him and got straight back on and headed home. Now that's service!