Gerald Cooper has been awarded The Britannia Trophy – for the year’s most meritorious performance in aviation – by The Royal Aero Club.

Alan Cassidy, Chairman of the British Aerobatic Association, said: “Gerald Cooper became British National Aerobatic Champion for the first time in 2009 and has not since been beaten in domestic competition. Gerald won an individual bronze medal in the World Advanced Aerobatic Championships in 2003 and graduated to the National Unlimited Aerobatic Team in 2004. Since then, Gerald has represented the United Kingdom in the highest levels of aerobatic competition.

“In September 2012, Gerald flew as part of the British Team at the European Aerobatic Championships and won the Gold medal and title of European Freestyle Aerobatic Champion, beating 22 other pilots in the final rankings of the Freestyle competition.

“This exceptional performance is the first time that a British pilot has won a Gold medal in a major Unlimited aerobatic competition. It is especially worthy of note in the light of the significant state funding received by some other competitors, while the British effort remains largely self-supported.

“If you are surprised that you had not heard this news before, in the general media, it was achieved on the last day of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, when Andy Murray also won the US Open Tennis Championships. Column inches went elsewhere.”

The RAeC Awards date back to 1908 and recognise achievement in aviation. The Historical List of RAeC Awards includes several of the most famous names in the field, including The Red Arrows, The British Microlight Team and Paul Bonhomme.

Gerald Cooper is known for his imaginative freestyle routine and this year will again see him attending many air sports competitions, air shows and private events across the globe.

Gerald also participates in TV documentaries worldwide and is a regular on the Sky Sports channel. In his spare time he provides training and coaching for the British Advanced Aerobatic Team as well as many individual pilots looking to progress in aerobatics.

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