The VAC’s Liz Inwood Taildragger Scholarship is now open for its second year to young pilots who wish to convert from typical flying club nosewheel designs to older tailwheel types, potentially opening the door to flying a wider range of vintage and classic aircraft.
Named in memory of the late Tiger Moth pilot and flying instructor Liz Inwood, the Scholarship offers five hours’ flying to a PPL, NPPL or LAPL licence holder under the age of 35, who must have logged at least 100 hours’ total flying time, of which at least 50 hours must have been as pilot-in-command. It aims to assist them in learning classic ‘taildragger’ handling, which forms part of the now-required differences training.
‘In addition to allowing them to hone their handling skills for older heritage aircraft, it may also allow access to flying or even becoming a syndicate partner in a range of fun-to-fly aircraft, which are often much cheaper to acquire than contemporary GA types,’ says the VAC. The award, which is funded by donations from the Vintage Aircraft Club, Light Aircraft Association and the Inwood estate, will enable the use of a suitable flying school aircraft and instructor, selected to suit the recipient’s location.
‘The selectors may contact you with further questions, and may request an interview (which could be by telephone) if necessary,’ says the VAC. ‘The award will include aircraft hire and instructors’ costs, but does not include any travel, accommodation or subsistence. The award will be paid to a suitable flying school agreed between the selection panel and the successful applicant, who will also be invited as a guest of the VAC to the Light Aircraft Association Rally at Sywell on 2-3 September where the successful recipient will be announced.’
Application forms can be downloaded at: vintageaircraftclub.org.uk/taildragger-scholarship.php and must be submitted on or before the closing date of 29 July.
