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24th Feb 2013

Flying Scholar

Cadet Flight Sergeant Jonathan Bell (17 yrs), from 134 (Bedford) Squadron, has been awarded a prestigious Air Cadet Pilot Scheme Scholarship. The scholarship will fund 12 hours of flying in either a Grob Tutor or the civilian equivalent, the Grob 115D Heron Light Aircraft, leading to a solo flight.

Each year a limited number of flying, gliding and air navigation scholarships are available to Air Cadets across the country and competition for these places is extremely fierce.

As an air minded organisation, the Air Training Corps main aim is to promote and encourage, among young men and women, a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force. This interest is best stimulated by teaching air minded cadets to fly and glide.

Over the allotted training period, FS Bell will carry out a series of sorties to learn the effects of controls, how to fly straight and level, turning, climbing, descending, stalling and the correct actions to be taken should an engine failure occur, finally learning the circuit for his solo flight.

Before a cadet can go solo they also have to complete the Air Exam which has 5 sections covering radiotelephony, air law and general information about the aircraft.

This award comes hot on the heels of a Guild of Airline Pilots and Navigators Gliding Scholarship (GAPAN), which was awarded to FS Bell in January this year. The GAPAN Scholarship, which will be undertaken at the Four Counties Gliding Club at RAF Wittering, funds 40 launches and could lead to the award of the British Gliding Association Bronze “C”.

Already an accomplished aviator, in the Summer of 2011, FS Bell successfully completed an Air Cadet Gliding Scholarship at Royal Air Force Henlow, Bedfordshire, with 616 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, where he gained his Silver Wings.

FS Bell’s commented, “I am very grateful that I have been awarded this scholarship, knowing it is not something you can just sign up to and receive. So far, I have flown solo in the Grob Vigilant with 616 VGS at RAF Henlow and am also due to start my GAPAN Gliding Scholarship. To also achieve the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme Flying Scholarship will help fulfil my flying ambitions and add to my flying experiences and capabilities. To self fund a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) is expensive, so being able to fly 12 hours towards a PPL with the Air Cadets inspires me to make sure I get the most out of this opportunity and aim to gain a PPL in due course.

Mr Vladek Cirin, the Squadron’s Training Officer Air said, “I am absolutely delighted that FS Bell has been awarded this Scholarship as it is one of the premiere awards that can be gained through the Air Cadet Organisation. FS Bell’s thoroughly deserved Flying Scholarship follows on from the award of three Flying Scholarships last year, to cadets from 134 (Bedford) Squadron. Bedford is a modern vibrant Squadron providing opportunities for all of its cadets across a huge range of activities and can really claim that it puts the “Air” in Air Cadet.”