Flying Scholarships

What is The RAF Association (RAFA) Flying Scholarship?

For video footage and photographs of the 2008 Flying Scholarship winners, click here

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 the ACO & GVCAC from across the UK to nominate outstanding cadets for Flying Scholarships, to enable them to obtain, or put their flying hours towards completion of, the National Private Pilot Licence (NPPL).

Cadets are awarded the Scholarships by the RAF Association (RAFA) each year, with the person in first place receiving 35 hours flying time and four others, 12 hours each.

2009 Flying Scholarship Winners

Flying-Scholarship-Winners- In a groundbreaking first, TWO air cadets have taken the top prize in a national competition run by the RAF Association (RAFA).

It is the first time ever that judges have awarded joint first place for our Flying Scholarships.

Joint Top Place Winners

FS Sarah Taylor, 18, from the 92 (Chorley) Squadron ATC
Sgt Stephen Horrocks, 17, of 1969 (Rossendale) Squadron ATC

The three winners of the 12-hour scholarships were:

CWO Berkeley Winser, 19, of 129 (Tunbridge Wells) Squadron ATC
FS Jenny Munn, 17, of 1254 (Godalming) Squadron ATC
JUO Terry Musgrove, 18, of Welbeck DSFC

Sarah Taylor	Stephen Horrocks

Jenny Munn	Berkeley Winser

Terry Musgrove

The squadrons are invited to nominate outstanding cadets for flying scholarships, to help them achieve the necessary flying hours for their National Private Pilots Licence (NPPL).

In previous years the cadet in first place received 35 hours flying time along with four runners up who received 12 hours each. But this year judges said there was no separating the two from Lancashire who were in the running for top spot.

Following judging and interviews for this year’s competition, Sgt Stephen Horrocks, 17, who is a member of the 1969 (Rossendale) Squadron ATC and Flight Sergeant Sarah Taylor, 18, from the 92 (Chorley) Squadron ATC, took first place in the competition.

The judges looked at the flying hours that the two candidates had already clocked up and will aim to award sufficient hours to them both to enable them to complete their NPPL.

Both cadets hope to join the RAF after completing university degrees in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering, with their biggest goal being to become fast jet pilots.

This year there were 39 entries from across the UK competing for the RAFA scholarships, of which only 12 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.

Former RAF Group Captain, Bob Hounslow, who is the Director of Membership and Areas for the RAF Association (RAFA), was one of the judges in the competition.

He said: “I was amazed at the exceptional standards of all the applicants that we interviewed this year and it was incredibly difficult to choose between them.

“The Air Cadet Organisation comprises a very able and talented group of young people, who reflect the ethos of the Royal Air Force extremely well. These young people should be very proud of their achievements.”

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

The scholarships, which are open to male and female air cadets, aim to provide flight training for young people in light aircraft.

To download the press release for this item, please visit our Press page

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

The Winners of the 2008 Scholarships


James Bown	Adam Roberts	Graham Macalister

Nicole Pogore	Shailen Bhat

To view the experiences of the 2008 winning cadets in picture and video format during their training at various flying schools over the past few months please click here

RAFA Members Recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2009

National Presidential Certificates have been awarded to members to coincide with the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2009.
Read more »

Please see below for some useful links to other areas of our website :

Please contact CHQ directly on
Telephone: 0116 266 5224 or
Fax: 0116 266 5012

Printable Page

How can I help?

Click here to Donate