Flying Scholarships

The 2008 Flying Scholarship Application Form and Terms & Conditions are now available to download below. You may additionally request them directly from RAFA CHQ - please click here to complete our contact form to request yours.

If you require further information or have any queries regarding the Flying Scholarship, please contact Anne Henson - Membership Events Manager on 0116 268 8752 or email us - contact page

2008 Flying Scholarship Application Form

2008 Flying Scholarship Terms & Conditions

Please note - the closing date for applications is 31st January 2008

Click here for further information about the 2008 Flying Scholarship on our CHQ News pages.

What is The RAF Association (RAFA) Flying Scholarship?

Each year Air Cadets from across the country play a vital role in helping to collect for the annual Wings Appeal, organised by The RAF Association (RAFA).

And as a form of ‘thank you’ applications are invited from Air Cadet Squadrons from across the UK to nominate outstanding cadets for flying scholarships, to enable them to achieve the necessary flying hours to qualify for solo flying.

Members of the Air Training Corps are awarded the scholarships by the RAFA each year, with the person in first place receiving 35 hours flying time and the others 12 hours each.

The scholarships, which are open to male and female members of the ATC, are funded by money raised through the RAFA annual Battle of Britain Wings Grand Draw.

They aim to provide flight training for young people in light aircraft.

The Winners of the 2007 Competition

Five outstanding air cadets fought off fierce competition to win an RAF Association (RAFA) national flying scholarship for 2007.

There were 58 entries for the 2007 competition from across the UK competing for the RAFA scholarships, of which only 16 were nominated as finalists and invited to RAF Cranwell to attend the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre. There they undertook a challenging aptitude test and panel interview.

2007 Scholarship Winners:

Christopher Dodd - 35 Hour Scholarship

Lynnette Purves - 12 Hour Scholarship	Mark Vance - 12 Hour Scholarship
James Hooton - 12 Hour Scholarship	Tom Short - 12 Hour Scholarship

Christopher Dodd, 17, who is a member of the 610 City of Chester squadron, won the 35 hour scholarship.

Christopher, who lives in Farndon in Cheshire, said his main aim is to become a pilot in the RAF and the flying hours he has won will set him well on track for just that, with his first goal being to gain his Private Pilots Licence (PPL).

Christopher said: “It was amazing to win the scholarship – when I first found out I was stumped for words. I was really over the moon and extremely excited – this is brilliant!”

He added that his life has revolved around his passion for aviation and he hopes to join the RAF as a pilot after completing a Masters degree in aeronautical engineering.

The other four cadets who won the 12-hour scholarships were: Lynette Purves, 19, from 161 (Inverness) Squadron, Mark Vance, 18, of the 2241 (Regent House School) Squadron, James Hooton, 18, of the 2394 (East Cleveland) Squadron and Tom Short, 17, of the 2517 (Buxton) Squadron.

All of the cadets who won the scholarships said they hoped to pursue a flying career in the RAF.

The cadets were presented with their awards by the Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Glenn Torpy at the RAF Association National Conference in Bournemouth this May.

Comments from some of the other cadet winners:

Lynette Purves said: “I feel privileged to have been awarded such a prestigious scholarship and am very thankful to RAFA for giving me this excellent opportunity to continue my passion for flying.

“Since I began flying training last year I have aspired to attain my PPL and eagerly anticipate using these flying hours towards achieving this objective. Once I have finished my studies at university I would ideally like to join the RAF as a fast-jet pilot and believe that the award of this scholarship will assist with my ambition.

“I am especially grateful to the Inverness Air Training Corps for providing me with the opportunities necessary to qualify me for the RAFA scholarship. In return I hope to use my experiences gained from this scholarship to promote interest in aviation within my squadron.”

James Hooton said: “I was ecstatically overjoyed when I found out I had won the scholarship. Flying is the only thing I have ever wanted to do, so getting these twelve hours is a big milestone towards what I hope to achieve in the future.”