I too had a Flying Scholarship, in 1980 at Compton Abbas on C150 Aerobats a truly fabulous months course. Sadly as you say the scheme is a shadow of its former self. one has to have attained a certain level within the Air Cadet Gliding system to be recommended for the Flying Scholarship. Given the fact that many youngsters may have a Saturday job ( or distance )that prevents them from attending a Gliding Course bars them form the Flying Scholarship straight away :-(