Air Scouts?

Minchandre

So, in the early 20th century, we see a profusion of paramilitary youth movements, of which the most prominent would become the Scouts. Though some weren't explicitly paramilitary, most taught skills such as leadership, navigation, outdoorsmanship, and marksmanship - that is, skills important for a modern soldier and officer.

There are also the Sea Scouts (beginning a few years after Scouting in general), who take Scouting, but emphasize boat handling and seamanship over hiking and outdoorsmanship.

That covers the army and the navy - what would it take to have some similar paramilitary youth organizations centered around maintaining and flying aircraft? Obviously, aircraft are a somewhat more expensive and dangerous proposal than seacraft or just hiking etc., but there is the example of the US Civil Air Patrol's cadet program, founded during WWII basically as a way to train future pilots.

Let's consider the Interbellum. We have a glut of now-obsolete aircraft on the market, and likely a lot of former pilots rattling around who can serve as full or part-time flying instructors. How expensive is fuel? Are circa 1920 aircraft too complex for a small group of dedicated teens with some proper supervision to maintain? What sort of social pressure would be needed to establish such a group?
 

Redbeard

Banned
Hitlerjugend enthusiastically flew gliders and many of the boys later became Luftwaffe pilots. But I guess you could call them "airscouts".

Regards

Redbeard
 

Dathi THorfinnsson

It's a whole lot easier to buy a canoe and some tents, or a motorboat , than it is to buy an airplane.

As for (para)military youth organisations, you DO have Air Cadets as well as Sea Cadets.
 

Falecius

As already said, Air Scouts did and do exist. I am sure they are explicitly mentioned in Baden Powell's writings.
Of course, it is significantly more complicated and costly to manage that than ordinary scout activity, but it never stopped passionate people.
 

Delta Force

Banned
Automobile and aircraft engine technology were quite similar well through to the 1950s, and fuel was rather inexpensive. Also, in the United States the FAA didn't exist until 1958, so it would probably be a bit easier from a regulatory perspective.

Perhaps the Army, Navy, National Guard, and airlines could help sponsor them. It wasn't until the end of World War II that there were enough pilots and navigators to meet demand, so there could be interest in programs to expand the pool of qualified people.
 

Minchandre

So, basically, they're OTL, and to be more common we need more, cheaper planes and government interest?

Great. That's exactly what I needed! Thanks, all.
 

RLBH

Falecius said:
As already said, Air Scouts did and do exist. I am sure they are explicitly mentioned in Baden Powell's writings.
Of course, it is significantly more complicated and costly to manage that than ordinary scout activity, but it never stopped passionate people.
Click to expand...
I was one, until I moved out of the area quite recently. The RAF flying instructors actually preferred us to Air Cadets because we didn't mind if we turned the engine of....
 
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