The Vintage Aircraft Club (VAC) has opened applications for its annual scholarship, which will provide a license holder under the age of 35 the opportunity to transition to a heritage tailwheel type.
Established in memory of late Tiger Moth pilot and flying instructor Liz Inwood (who passed away in 2013), the award of £1000 will offer one successful recipient five hours of flying at a school of their choice. Originally funded by family members and the Club, at the end of 2015 it was decided that the incentive would become a yearly event; enabling ‘a young person to fly the type of aircraft she loved so much’.
Noting that the Club must not only ‘attract new younger members, but must also hand on the skill sets required for these younger people to operate the older type of conventional undercarriage aircraft’ (taildraggers), the VAC aims to ‘encourage young pilots to transition from nose wheel to taildragger aircraft, thus providing an opportunity to fly more vintage types’.
Applicants must be the holder of a current PPL, NPPL or LAPL and possess a minimum of 100 hours total flying time, of which at least 50 hours must be as pilot in command at the time of the application.
Application forms are available here and can be emailed to vacscholarship@vintageaircraftclub.co.uk along with the contact details of two referees (including a former flying instructor). The closing date to submit completed forms is Thursday 31 August, after which candidates may be contacted with further questions. The winner of the scholarship will be invited to the VAC Annual Dinner and Awards at the Aviator Hotel, Sywell, this November where the recipient will also be formally announced.
IMAGE: CHARLES SUNTER / VINTAGE AIRCRAFT CLUB
