From Classroom to Cockpit: Wycombe Abbey Pupils Earn Prestigious Flying Scholarship
31 March 2025 - All
At the end of the Spring Term 2024, Masha (UVI) and Avalon (UVI) were awarded the prestigious Adrian Swire Flying Scholarship. Sponsored by the Adrian Swire Charitable Trust, this scholarship provides recipients with £2,500 to fund flying lessons, with the ultimate goal of flying solo. We are incredibly proud of both girls and excited to see their aviation journeys take flight. Read below to discover how they are progressing towards this remarkable achievement.
‘I cannot even begin to express how excited I was when I first received this incredible scholarship. Six months later, I can confidently say that the experience has exceeded my expectations. Choosing the right flying school required careful consideration, but I ultimately decided on a small school at Staverton Airport. I felt apprehensive upon arriving for my first lesson, but the enthusiasm and encouragement of those around me instantly put me at ease, even though I had only just met them. This perfectly describes how the flying community treat one another.
Upon reflection, learning a process from start to finish is a really rewarding endeavour n as you get to watch yourself progress constantly at your own pace. I have realised that this opportunity has really boosted my confidence, whenever I have a moment of doubt, I think to myself, ‘stop fussing about, you can fly a plane!’
I currently have 12 and half hours of flying time and even after all that hard work I still cannot fight the eagerness to get to Staverton every short leave.’ – Avalon (UVI)
‘Learning to fly a Cessna aircraft has been an incredible experience, and I am extremely grateful to the Flying Scholarship for giving me this opportunity. So far, I have practiced take-offs, landings, and basic navigation, becoming more comfortable with the controls each time I fly.
Take-offs were tricky at first—balancing the throttle, keeping the nose up at the right angle, and handling crosswinds—but after a few sessions, it started to feel more natural. For navigation, I have been learning to follow flight paths using visual landmarks and basic instruments, which has been especially exciting when flying along the Barcelona coastline.
My instructor has been fantastic, providing clear feedback and helping me stay calm and focused in the air. Every flight presents a new challenge but also marks a significant step forward in building my confidence as a pilot!’ – Masha (UVI)
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