Club president Maj (R) Abdul Razak Hashim
“Many of the key players in the nation’s aviation industry came from here. It was the focal point of basic flight training,” said Abdul Razak who got involved with the club in 1973.
Prior to 1965, the Sungai Besi Air Force functioned as the main airport in Klang Valley said Abdul Razak.
At the time, the air control tower was located in their building he added.
Besides grooming many of the nation’s first pilots who took their commercial licences here, the club has important connection with the politics of Malaya said Abdul Razak.
The first Prime Minister of Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman was the club’s president from 1959-1961 while later on former home minister Tun Ghazalie Shafie was club president from 1971-1979.
Tunku wrote in the club’s 50th anniversary commemorative booklet in 1979 that it was during one afternoon that they decided to form the Alliance of Umno/MCA.
The main building, annexe, hangar, gymnasium and a bungalow belong to the flying club.
Abdul Razak said the building is still used for the club's administration and for its class sessions.
“There is a lot of sentimental value here,” he said.
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