Cadets flying high thanks to scholarships
Three Perthshire air cadets have gained flying scholarships through a charitable trust based at Perth Airport.
Scott Connolly from Crieff, Connor Russell from Perth, and Brodie Spalding from Greenloaning all benefitted from the charitable trust‘Take Off’, which funds the costs of training young people in the 16 -18 year age bracket to reach‘first solo’; standard in a state- of-the-art fixed wing microlight aircraft.
The trio, who are all members of local RAF cadet squadrons, each flew 10 hours in the Scottish Aero Club’s Eurostar aircraft at Perth with instructors from Alba Airsports during the school summer holidays.
The trustees of Take Off were very impressed by the enthusiasm and attitude of each of the cadets and by their commitment to the training programme.
Each candidate has an ambition to follow a career in flying.
Ian Grosz, chairman of the trustees, thanked financial backers Blackadders and Perth Forces Charitable Trust.
He also moved to thank Wing Commander George Roberts, RAF (Rtd), from Balgowan, who acted as liaison with the local air cadet’s units in the selection of the three successful candidates, and pointed to support from Pooley’s Flight Equipment.
The scheme has been running since 2013, latterly in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council, and to date has seen more than 30 young people benefit, with several going on to fly solo and gain advanced flying licences.