The history of Wits Flying Club dates back to the late 1960’s as a sports club at Wits University. Wits Flying Club initially operated through Avex Air with Wits students getting discount on aircraft hire and instruction rates.

During the course of 1975, Dennis Spence the then Chairman of the Club was instrumental in the registration of the “Wits University Flying Association”. This is a section 21 company incorporated not for gain. On Monday, March 7, 1975 the First "Wits Plane" was purchased and the Club operated independently of Avex Air at Rand Airport. As a result of the success of the140, the following year a Piper Arrow 180 (ZS FDP) was purchased.

After a night forced landing during 1977, ZS-FDP was severely damaged. The Club subsequently purchased a Piper Arrow 200 with registration ZS-RTB.

During 1979 both the Arrow and Cherokee 140 were sold and two new Piper Tomahawk aircrafts (ZS-KHV and ZS-KHY) were purchased and operated until 1986 together with ZS-FWP and other aircraft leased to the Club. During 1986 when both Piper Tomahawk aircraft were sold and replaced with a Piper Cherokee 140 ZS-JVB. Piper Tomahawk ZS-KHV was leased back and operated on the Wits fleet until it was eventually sold in 1994. ZS-JVB was sold during 1991. Since that date the Club has operated with leased aircrafts only.

Over the years, the club operated from Rand Airport, Grand Central and Lanseria Airports. It was finally based and operated from Lanseria Airport from 1985.

Over the years since inception in the late 1960’s Wits Flying Club has trained numerous airline, commercial pilots and instructors. Many current airline captains were trained at Wits Flying Club.