LAA/Pooleys Spring Solo winner

Emily Malone from Tiptree in Essex has been named as the winner of the Light Aircraft Association and Pooleys Spring Solo bursary and will receive £1,500 to assist in reaching her first solo.

Launched to celebrate Pooleys 65th anniversary in 2022, the bursary was aimed at an aspiring pilot of any age or background. The winning entry was judged on the basis of the best entry answering the question: Why do I want to fly?

Emily, who is six hours into training with Seawing Flying Club at Southend impressed the judges with her entry, which highlighted both her long standing ambition to fly and a genuine passion. Her full answer to the question is shown below, but can be summarised in her final line; “Why I want to fly – because now I’ve found that part of me, I couldn’t bear to lose it again.”

Emily wrote:

“Ask me this three months ago, and I would have answered with something along the lines of freedom, the challenge, defying gravity. Flying is cool. Who wouldn’t want to fly?

“Then, in December, I had a trial flight as a present for my 33rd birthday. Now my answer is: because something in me clicked that day, and I simply cannot imagine not flying again.

“As we walked to the aeroplane ready to start my first proper lesson, my instructor asked me if I was nervous. No, I replied, just excited. And I meant it.

“Driving home afterwards I was singing at the top of my voice, unable to wipe the grin off my face. It was like finding a part of me that I’d never known was missing.

“When I was at school I wanted to fly. At a careers fair I was devastated to learn that having asthma would rule me out of applying to fly in the armed forces. Self-funded lessons weren’t an option, so I picked a different career path, putting flying out of my mind. While the idea of ever becoming a pilot faded, I still loved anything to do with flying, my enthusiasm no doubt boring my RAF brother-in-law to tears.

“Thinking of

15-year-old me wanting to be a pilot but writing-off those dreams for 18 years, I realise how insanely lucky I am to have been given the nudge to reignite that flame. I don’t really believe in fate, but it seems the stars have aligned at just the right time to push me in a direction I was always supposed to go in. Maybe a career as a pilot is now a possibility.

That’s why I want to fly – because now I’ve found that part of me, I couldn’t bear to lose it again.”

Events round up

· Correction. In the last issue of LA The Suffolk Coastal Strut Fly in at Monewden on 9 July, was confused with the ‘Meet the LAA Day’ on 17-18 September which will take place at Rougham.

· The Experimental Daysfly-in returns for 2022, and the organisers are inviting LAA members to join them on 1-3 July at Sanicole airfield (EBLE). Everyone interested in aviation, from aircraft owner to spotter, is welcome to join! Landing slots are limited, so register online at www.experimentaldays.be

· Scottish tour trip reminder. Don’t forget the LAA Scottish Tour takes place this month! For the latest update, turn to page 48.

Obituary

Retired in 2017, Trevor had a Spitfire flight booked to celebrate his 70th birthday in May this year, but sadly he lost his battle with cancer before he could achieve his goal.

Professionally Trevor worked for the RAF at Hullavington, Lyneham and Colerne and also at British Aerospace, Filton. Privately he flew gliders and light aircraft. He was a gliding instructor, an aircraft inspector, an aircraft restorer, and an exacting and faultless engineer throughout his career