Category Archives: News

Junior Aspiring Pilots Programme

What is the Course?

A four-part course specially designed for disabled children to get a fascinating and exciting introduction to aviation and to boost everyday skills test as teamwork and organisation. The programme is run by Aerobility staff and volunteers and will give a participant both aviation knowledge on the ground and a test of their flying skills at the controls of a real aircraft.

You will learn about topics such as principles of flight, how to talk over a radio, what airfields need to be safe and how to navigate your aircraft through the skies. You will also then have the opportunity to put the theory into practice through multiple flights at the controls of one of our aircraft.

Who can apply?

Disabled individuals from the ages of 12-18.

When do applications open?

Applications for the 2024 Junior Aspiring Pilots Programme are now open!

When does the course take place?

The next course will take place in Spring 2024. Please see the application form for further details.

Does it cost anything?

Nope! The course is free to attend.

Where is the course?

The ground school and the flying is at Aerobility HQ, Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire.

Young Aviators – 2,024 in 2024

YES– the LAA’s Youth & Education Support Strut— invites all Struts, Flying Schools & Clubs, Groups, Airfields, and individuals to join us to fly as many young people as possible in 2024. We will make a concerted effort throughout the UK to reach the target of 2,024 young people flown in the year.

To register your interest each group and pilot should contact YES to fly Young Aviators for the program and record flights through the YES website – http://yesflyers.org.uk.  This feature is not yet fully sorted – so you can send us your details through theyesflyers.org.uk/yes-contacts/(contact us) until we have this up and running, expected by February 2024.

Remember the TARGET is to fly at least 2,024 Young Aviators making the year 2024 the Big One for the UK.

We can guarantee that once you have experienced the joy of introducing young adults to the world of aviation you and they will never look back. It is simply a life changing experience to be able to pass on your skills, enthusiasm and experience to ‘tomorrow’s adults.’ 

Membership to YES is FREE.   Please complete the membership form on the YES website (http://yesflyers.org.uk) to join and support our future through Young Aviators!

We provide an experience for young people in aviation and STEAM, regardless whether they wish to get involved in aviation; we want them to realise there are many options available to their future.

YES works with industry and airlines and teams up with LAA Struts & Type Clubs, Youth Organisations, Airfields and Charities, as well as individual pilots using our member’s aeronautical experience, skills and knowledge to bring about life changing opportunities.

To be found under the canopy of YES are regional charities and groups that have been beavering away for some years and making a difference in their own areas of operation.  Examples are the Cornwall based charity FOGFeet Off the Ground expertly managed by Pete White, Young Aviators/The Plane Guy – run by Andre Faehndrich and The Joystick Club from White Waltham. Our members are ‘small pockets of enthusiasm’ spread all over the UK and it is now time for you to bring along your own brand of enthusiasm and knowledge and join us all at YES for Young Aviators – 2,024 in ‘24!

2024 is going to be a BIG year for us and it could also be a BIG year for you too! Please support us by joining through the YES website!

The future of post-16 qualifications

LAA and YES member, Andy Webb, who is also a Director of Skysmart recently took part as an expert witness in an enquiry into post 16+ education and opportunities.

The enquiry was instigated by Robert Halflon MP for Harlow and can be watched at the link below. The result of the enquiry will be available in a few months.

Skysmart, like many companies, are having difficulties in finding young recruits to fill vacancies who are able to cope and complete an Apprenticeship. In the broadcast you can hear various SME’s debate the problems with MP’s and the CBI representative:

https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/8ca2f0d3-231b-48d0-bbb8-bdd0fa46bf91

Blooming Bodmin Airfield

May 24th, 2022

Join us to hear about the incredible biodiversity at Bodmin Airfield with Jay Gates

Where do you think you’d find over 170 different plant species, including three species of Orchid- the Chelsea Flower Show? A nature reserve? Well, no, actually- a small private Airfield in the centre of Cornwall!

From a chance encounter with Ian Bennallick- a Cornwall Country botanical recorder, the biodiversity gem which is Bodmin Airfield, was unearthed. Ian spotted what looked like Orchids in the Airfield and identified three different species of Orchids on closer inspection. These were the Southern marsh, Heath spotted and Greater butterfly Orchids.

Bodmin Airfield has since become a key ‘Donor’ site of seed and green hay as part of the Meadow Match project, which provides a ‘dating agency’ to match makes donor and receptor sites of wildflower meadows. Wildflower Collective runs Meadow Match in partnership with the University of Exeter, The Halpin Trust and the SWEEP project.

Join us for a talk and Q&A by Jay Gates, who will tell you about this exciting discovery, and how they have inspired other airfields locally, nationally and even internationally to recognise their biodiversity potential!

Join us on Zoom on 24th May at the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/blooming-bodmin-airfield-tickets-320577494917

Visit YES at the Shuttleworth Season Premiere Air Show 2022

Visit YES this year at the Shuttleworth Season Premiere Air Show, Sunday 1st May 2022.

Expect a thrilling air display from historic aircraft, fantastic children’s activities, and a chance to explore the beautiful Shuttleworth Swiss Garden.  There is something to keep the whole family entertained!

Find out more information and book your tickets at the link below:

We look forward to seeing you there!

YES Conference 2022

For years YES have enjoyed conferences at Brooklands Museum and in more recent times they have added Cosford Aerospace museum as a venue. The conference is an action packed day with many speakers from all aspects of aviation and many youth movements who are all locked together in a single thought of helping our youngsters discover the world of aviation. Time is also allowed for networking and this communication between attendees has led to incredible opportunities for our future adults.

The last two years has presented problems for us all due to the Covid pandemic so it was decided to hold the 2022 YES conference by ZOOM, something that we have all now become very familiar with. So the date was set for Friday 11th March at 17.00 with the following running order of speakers on the agenda with the set time allowed for each talk:

Conference Introduction: Eryl Smith, Chairman of the LAA ~ 5 mins

Youth & Education Support, YES, Stewart Luck, Acting Chairman ~ 10 mins

Green Credentials for Aviators, Cllr Louise Pepper, Uttlesford District Council, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change ~ 5 mins

The UK’s 1st AERO ECO AIRFIELD : Jay Gates ~ 10 mins

FOG……..  Feet Off the Ground charity at Bodmin Airfield. Pete White ~ 10 mins

Shuttleworth’s Discovery Zone, Mathew Studdert-Kennedy ~ 10 mins

WAT WW1 Heritage Trust, Dick Forsythe Chief Trustee ~ 5 mins

The Plane Guy, Andre Faehndrich S ~ 5 mins

Jet Age Museum, Mike Fortescue (Museum Volunteer ~ 5 mins

Aerobility Harvey Matthewson ~ 10 mins

A Teacher’s view of the Build A Plane Initiatives, Stewart Blakemore Project lead. 10 mins

Heritage Engineering Apprenticeships Francis Glalashan ~ 10 mins

LAA Struts, David Millin ~ 5 mins

Type Clubs, VAC & Aviation Artists Anne Hughes ~ 5 mins

Uttlesford District Council Communities Development Officer: John Starr ~ 5 mins

Cllr Richard Porch, Mayor of Saffron Walden ~ 5 mins

Stansted Aviation College/Havering College. B@P progress, Rares Turcu YES Ambassador  ~ 5 mins

A full and varied selection of topics and with discussion time and the odd technical hitch we managed to complete our conference sometime before 22.00.

Without doubt the star of the show was, our Jay Gates, who presented a superb picture of how our airfield BODMIN has become the leading light in the UK, or possibly further afield than that, as a green ECO airfield. Watch this space!

Pete White, Chairman, FEET OFF the GROUND (FOG)

HCAP launches 2022 PPL flying scholarships

A number of PPL flying scholarships are available from the Honourable Company of Air Pilots (HCAP) – and the window for applications is open from now until 2 February 2022.

Providing up to 45 hours of flying training, the scholarships can take a candidate with little or no experience to completion of their flying licence during the course of the summer. Alternatively they can ‘finish off’ someone who is already partially trained.

Candidates must be 17 or over on 1 June 2022.  The course must be commenced during June 2022 and completed by 29 September 2022.

Read more about the Scholarships and previous winners on the Flyer news page, here:

https://www.flyer.co.uk/hcap-launches-2022-ppl-flying-scholarships

To apply, click the link below:

https://www.airpilots.org/scholarships/flying-scholarships/flying-scholarships-2022/

Good luck with your application!

WW1 AVIATION HERITAGE TRUST – FLIGHT SIMULATOR

In 2015, with help from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust built a replica of a 100-year-old flight Simulator and fitted a VR Headset with a programme called Flying Aces to encourage young and old to experience the challenges of flying and fighting a WW1 aeroplane.

The intention is to use the funds created to keep their reproduction WW1 aircraft airborne – BE2, Albatros DVA, Nieuport 17, Fokker DVII (joining shortly). The inspiration for this project was Major Lanoe Hawker VC DSO RFC.  Hawker had a major impact in his short life on the operational effectiveness of the Royal Flying Corps in just over 2 years 1914-1916 as a leader, pilot, innovator, and inventor.

One of his many inventions was the Rocking Nacelle created when he realised by mid-1915 that the attrition in pilots was getting extremely high through inadequate training.

Once the pre-war cadre had been killed, their replacements with no experience of shooting guns could not hit moving targets from their aircraft. 

Hence, Hawker designed a cockpit that moved in 3 axes and allowed them to fire at targets on a range.  He also wanted to ensure that the younger pilots he was leading, and training, were prepared for the challenges and pressures of live warfare in the air.

It was for this purpose that he devised the ‘rocking fuselage’ or ‘rocking nacelle’ for target practice on the ground, simulating the tough conditions in the air.

You can enjoy this exquisite mix of vintage mechanics with the latest VR technology as the rocking nacelle is now mounted on a trailer and available for hire.

The WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust’s (WW1 AHT)  vision is to provide a unique, dynamic, and enduring testament to the evolution of aviation, and the bravery and innovation of the crews, in the Great War.

The Trust’s raison d’etre is to explain how the concepts of air power were founded in the air battles over France and to keep the infinite tales of courage and endurance of the Great War aviators in the public eye.

The Trust is creating and maintaining a collection of flying late-model original WW1 aeroplanes to encourage young people into engineering and flying by supporting STEM initiatives. The Flight Simulator is now mobile and will support the Trust in this aim while also contributing to the upkeep of the aeroplanes.

www.ww1aviationheritagetrust.co.uk

Air Traffic Services Assistant vacancy at Gloucestershire Airport – Staverton

An exciting vacancy has come available at Gloucestershire Airport for an Air Traffic Services Assistant.

A great and varied role, you will be able to learn a wide range of skills while assisting the Air Traffic Department.

Minimum qualifications are GCSEs and basic IT skills.

Other qualifications useful to this role (but not required) could include previous experience as a Cadet NCO or Ranger, or a recent Air Cadet or air-minded Scout/Guide.

In the past, these posts have been a starting point for full ATCO careers.

To find out more, please visit the Gloucester Airport vacancies page:

https://www.gloucestershireairport.co.uk/vacancies/

For job description, click here:

https://www.gloucestershireairport.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ATSA-Job-Advert-09.11.21.pdf

World Pedal Plane Gathering at Old Warden on Wednesday 29th December 2021

Introducing the World Pedal Plane Gathering at Old Warden on Wednesday 29th December 2021, 12.00 noon.

The gathering is a joint venture between YES and The Plane Guy.

Our aim will be to gather up to 55 pedal planes to try and beat beat the current US record of 53 set at Oshkosh 2019!

The event will be held at:

Shuttleworth Trust
Old Warden Aerodrome,
Hill Lane,
Biggleswade SG18 9DX

http://www.theplaneguy.com/

https://www.shuttleworth.org

Scouts Aviation Taster day Success at Audley End Airfield

An Aviation Taster Day for Scouts was held at Audley End Airfield on 16th October 2021.

Around 60 scouts attended the event from Newport, Thaxted, Carver Barracks, Bocking and Clavering, all located in N.Essex

At the first base on the day, Rules of the Air were covered in a fairly relaxed atmosphere:

The Second Base the scouts visited was to learn about Elementary Navigation:

How to conduct PREFLIGHT CHECKS was next at Base 3:

Our 4th Base Covered Aviation ART:

Some of the amazing artwork produced that was entered into the LAA Young Artists Competition:

The 5th Base was Aviation Careers.

Lunch was served to all Volunteers:

At the End of the day the Mayor of Saffron Walden, Richard Porch and 100-year-old PPL/LAA inspector Ted Barret exchanged notes:

A big thank you to the LAA who came to promote the aviation art competition and the Guild of Aviation Artists for their help on the day, Vintage Fabrics who allowed us to use their hangar for the art sessions, and all the PPL Pilots, Instructors, Scout Leaders and Counsellors who were all part of making the event so successful.

Thank you also to the WW1 Aviation Heritage Trust who took part in the event and have some exciting and interesting projects planned for the future.

Project Slingshot Update

On 20th October the fuselage, undercarriage, firewall forward and canopy kits for the Sling2 arrived at Cosford.

We have a lot of work to do now – the empennage still has to be completed so we are now planning to double the length of the build session each week.