Kelab Penerbangan 4B
Malaysia : January/February 2000 Newsletter
THE FORMATION OF THE 4B FLYING CLUB(KP4B)
KP4B was the
brainchild of Y.A.B Datuk Wira Hj Mohd Ali b Mohd
Rustam, President of KP4B, and traces
its formation back to 1995.
Y.A.B Datuk
Wira Hj Mohd Ali b Mohd Rustam had the vision that youths in our country were
capable of excelling in aviation technology if systematic guidance could be
given to them.
With this
target in mind, the innaugral
meeting on 18.10.95 at the
Holiday Inn, KL, by officers of the GB4B(M)
resulted in a resolution which led to the formation of the KP4B.
Officially
registered as the Kelab Penerbangan 4B Malaysia by the Registrar of Societies
(M) on 24.1.96, the club was launched by Y.A.B Datuk
Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Malaysian Prime Minister on 3.5.96. The
KP4B’s temporary home was some of the hangars rented from the Eagle Aircraft
Factory.
KP4B’s
launching was a very grand occasion. Thousands of people including dignitaries,
aviation representatives and school children were given the opportunity, for
the first time, to see how microlight aircraft looked like. The five brand-new
Quicksilver MXL II Sport aircraft put on aerial displays that thrilled the
crowds. Other microlight aircraft operators such as the Batu Pahat Microlight Flight Park introduced the public to
aircraft such as the Paraglider, the Powered Parachute and the Trike
The club moved
to its own hangar next to the Malaysian Flying Academy in 1997. The hangar
costing RM400,000.00 was built from donations.
Many people
gave their unlimited time and effort to set up the club. Even though some of
them are no longer with the club, the club will always remain indebted to them.
The KP4B has so
for trained 21 microlight pilots. In the effort to keep the cost of learning-
to- fly low, KP4B charges among the cheapest rates in the country. It is hoped
that more Malaysians, especially the youths, will take up the challenge to
become pilots.
To aid youths
in taking up flying, Yayasan Melaka has an
easy-repayment loan scheme that finances their training at KP4B. Yayasan Melaka remains the only corporate
organisation, at the moment, which can make the ambition to become a pilot,
come true for many youths.
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