After the school moved to Gressel Lane, Tile Cross, it found itself in close proximity to the final approach to the main runway at Birmingham Airport. Consequently there was a great fascination by many boys to the frequent flypasts of Airliners to and from the Airport. In the late 50s and 60’s these mainly consisted of Propeller driven aircraft, initially Piston Engined, but by the 60s, The Vickers Viscount Turbo-Prop was making frequent visits. “Plane-spotting” soon became a major hobby in the school.

By 1970 the Scientific Society had been catering for this growing trend, however a number of students felt that the time was right for a more specialist spin off. The CGS Aviation Society

The Society was formed in September, 1971, by Nigel Williams, Phil Watson and Terry Galvin of 6U, and Mr. R. W. Ball. Mr. Ball was teaching at the School while he was waiting for confirmation of his place at the College of Air Train­ing, Hamble. Mr. Hassall took over the supervision of the Society when Mr. Ball left in January, 1972.

The Society had its own magazine called ‘ Take-Off ‘ which was produced, in colour, six times during the year. The first ‘Take-Off’ appeared about a week after the formation of the Society, which by this time had grown to become the largest Society in the School.

The first term saw much activity which included three visits, film shows and talks. The second term opened with a talk given by a B.O.A.C. pilot and a trip to Heathrow. This and the Summer term were not as active as the Autumn term, since the majority of the committee were involved in G.C.E. examinations. Despite this, the magazine was produced and continued to cover various aspects of aviation, both within the Society and outside.
Visits during the year included two to Heathrow, Luton, the Shuttleworth Collection, the HS125 factory at Hawarden, the British Midland Airways Engineering Base at Castle Donnington, the Biggin Hill Air Fair and the F6 display at Sywell in Northants.

The society continued after the original Committee left after completion of their A Levels, under the Staff Stewardship of Mr Hassell. Copies of “Take-Off” magazine can be found in the Archives of The Library of Birmingham. 

It is interesting to note that this was not the first Society in the School which was devoted to Aviation. Copies of The Hammer Magazine from the 1950s have revealed the existence of an Aeronautical Society.