Flying Scholarships?
Just had 2 days at Sywell for the LAA Rally (pity about the weather) and my annual pilgrimage - did my FS there in 1961. At the time there was an ancient crop spraying pilot there (well he was in his twenties and we were 17/18 so he seemed "old") - Barry Tempest. We even spent a couple of non-flying days stripping a couple of scrap Tiger Moths for parts for Barry's aircraft. Saturday I was sitting at a catering concession table and another visitor sat at the table and we fell into conversation - turned out to be Barry's son. Talked about a few things including the time Barry was due to display at an event at Belton House near Grantham where I was manning a TA recruitment stand, but he had got caught up in telegraph wires alongside the River Trent in Nottingham, fortunately without hurting himself. Cheers Barry.
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SkySports yes, they have to complete a gliding SCHOLARSHIP not just achieve solo. (ACTO 32 dated 18 Feb 16).
Interestingly the flying badge requirements have changed again and are not either a flying scholarship (with caveats) or NPPL/LAPL/PPL. (ACTO 34, same date.)
Interestingly the flying badge requirements have changed again and are not either a flying scholarship (with caveats) or NPPL/LAPL/PPL. (ACTO 34, same date.)
they have to complete a gliding SCHOLARSHIP not just achieve solo.
I would imagine they would have to do the whole scholarship, despite having somewhere in the region of 80 launches and 15 flying hours!
Is ACTO 32 a restricted document? A google search only throws up out of date appendix.
50 years of defying gravity
I can't resist posting on this auspicious day. On 9th September 1966 at White Waltham , I went solo in Piper Colt G-ARJD. I finished my Special Flying Award in November with a cross-country to Sywell and Oxford - all non-radio! I also flew JC, JH and KR. Spinning, which was required in those days, was done in Chipmunks G-AORF and TH.
Next year I was in UBAS, flying WD292, 353, 355 and WP900 and getting paid to do it!
Still flying and learning something new on every flight. My most recent trip was from Calgary to Oshkosh and back in a Stinson 108 - 2600 nm.
Flown 45 types, half of them solo.
Next year I was in UBAS, flying WD292, 353, 355 and WP900 and getting paid to do it!
Still flying and learning something new on every flight. My most recent trip was from Calgary to Oshkosh and back in a Stinson 108 - 2600 nm.
Flown 45 types, half of them solo.
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Selection was via Hornchurch when I did my Flying Scholarship in 1958, as a member of 115 Peterborough ATC. It was at Marshalls Cambridge. I arrived there on 31 July and was flying Tiger Moth G-ALTW later that same evening with my instructor Mr Minshaw. Five and a half hours (flying time) later he sent me solo. I got my PPL in ten days, and have been flying, on and off, ever since. I also did the gliding course at Hawkinge a few weeks later.
A friend, also with 115, did his Flying Scholarship on the Tiger Moths at Sywell, with Les Hilditch, like Wander00.
Sad that things have changed so much. We were so lucky.
Laurence
A friend, also with 115, did his Flying Scholarship on the Tiger Moths at Sywell, with Les Hilditch, like Wander00.
Sad that things have changed so much. We were so lucky.
Laurence
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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 :-(
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Wander00: Yes he was the same year as me, 1958. I met Les Hilditch on one or two occasions: he was highly spoken of. I later converted to the Auster at Cambridge and flew the Sywell G-AMTM on one occasion.
Laurence
Laurence
I feel that there is an important read across to the topic of cadet gliding. I was fortunate to belong to 3 different Air Cadet Squadrons during my teens. The opportunity for a cadet flying scholarship seemed to fall within a very narrow age window for an individual cadet. Unfortunately, on all three squadrons, I saw that there was a "golden boy" or two that were bound to get that rare, plum internal reccomendation and, often, subsequently, the cadet WO post. In my case, there was no hope from 15 onwards of progressing, unless a certain other cadet had dissapeared.
However, cadet gliding was relatively guaranteed and, importantly, gave almost all cadets who wished to do it the way forward to solo gliding.
This is the huge loss that the ATC seem to have now suffered. 
In my case, solo gliding, in cheap simple gliders with volunteer instructors, was a vital start to a nearly 40 yr military pilot career.
Sadly, with the effective loss of cheap cadet gliding, the ATC has been neutered.
OAP
However, cadet gliding was relatively guaranteed and, importantly, gave almost all cadets who wished to do it the way forward to solo gliding. This is the huge loss that the ATC seem to have now suffered. In my case, solo gliding, in cheap simple gliders with volunteer instructors, was a vital start to a nearly 40 yr military pilot career. Sadly, with the effective loss of cheap cadet gliding, the ATC has been neutered.
OAP
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OAP.
Am a little confused by your description since, IIRC, the old flying scholarship scheme was run by the RAF and one would apply via the AFCO and filtered candidates were selected by going through Part 1 of OASC. (Aptitude tests, aircrew medical and interview.)
Since the RAF Flying Scholarship gave way to the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme, what you describe seems a lot more pertinent now, where trainees are selected at the regional level, rather than by OASC. The loss of gliding training now means that there's no way of determining whether an applicant has any kind of aptitude and, accordingly, pass rates at Dundee are far lower than before. More than ever, selectors are dependent on the tick in the good lad box from their OCs and the application form and an increasing number of badge-hunters seem to displacing those eager and committed to start a career in aviation.
My big worry is that if/when Pippa Middleton ever gets gliding training up and running again, those who progress farthest will be those favoured by geography rather than ability/aptitude. TBH, it might be time to get OASC involved again so at least applicants are judged by a common, and proven, standard.
Am a little confused by your description since, IIRC, the old flying scholarship scheme was run by the RAF and one would apply via the AFCO and filtered candidates were selected by going through Part 1 of OASC. (Aptitude tests, aircrew medical and interview.)
Since the RAF Flying Scholarship gave way to the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme, what you describe seems a lot more pertinent now, where trainees are selected at the regional level, rather than by OASC. The loss of gliding training now means that there's no way of determining whether an applicant has any kind of aptitude and, accordingly, pass rates at Dundee are far lower than before. More than ever, selectors are dependent on the tick in the good lad box from their OCs and the application form and an increasing number of badge-hunters seem to displacing those eager and committed to start a career in aviation.
My big worry is that if/when Pippa Middleton ever gets gliding training up and running again, those who progress farthest will be those favoured by geography rather than ability/aptitude. TBH, it might be time to get OASC involved again so at least applicants are judged by a common, and proven, standard.
Cat Funt,
Hi! IIRC, the process of proposal, support and recommendation for OASC selection relied heavily on the Squadron. An individuals chance at hitting the window of opportunity was partly dependant upon chance and Squadron politics, or so it seemed to me. If there was a way of "demanding" consideration or, a realistic chance of recommendation in that circumstance, I knew nothing of it.
Anyhow, further reflection reminds me that Air Cadet gliding was the real foundation of many flying careers. More so, IMO, than Flying Scholarships and, at a hugely superior VFM.
What a terrible loss the destruction of cadet gliding is!
OAP
Hi! IIRC, the process of proposal, support and recommendation for OASC selection relied heavily on the Squadron. An individuals chance at hitting the window of opportunity was partly dependant upon chance and Squadron politics, or so it seemed to me. If there was a way of "demanding" consideration or, a realistic chance of recommendation in that circumstance, I knew nothing of it.
Anyhow, further reflection reminds me that Air Cadet gliding was the real foundation of many flying careers. More so, IMO, than Flying Scholarships and, at a hugely superior VFM.
What a terrible loss the destruction of cadet gliding is!OAP
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ATR43 - I too did my flying at Compton Abbas on a Special Flying Award on C150s a couple of years after you, a truly wonderful airfield. My instructor was the late Alec Blythe, a rather gruff old chap but a superb pilot who loved nothing better than turning the aircraft upside down. Only found out much later that he'd flown Dakotas at Arnhem & said he'd been alongside Dick Lord in the stream over the DZ when he won his VC.
RIP sir, I have you & that SFA to thank for my flying career.
RIP sir, I have you & that SFA to thank for my flying career.
