Aerobility’s Scholarships are now open for applications
Aerobility are pleased to announce that we are once again taking applications for our highly competitive flying scholarship opportunities. Applicants can apply for either an Introductory flight or a 5 Hour Mini-Scholarship. This funded flying is made possible by some incredible supporters of Aerobility, meaning once again the charity can make aviation even more accessible to people with disabilities. Find out more here - Scholarships
My Experience:
“Before my scholarship, I had only completed an experience flight (my only time ever in a plane!) and was just completely overwhelmed by the experience rather than being able to fully grasp everything I was taught. Over my scholarship I feel that I’ve developed an appreciation and understanding of the basics. I’ve learnt all about the effects of controls and gone through a range of exercises to put theory into practice. I’ve run many checklists, learnt how to taxi, fly straight and level, turn, climb, descend, put in flaps, use carb heat, lean the mixture etc all the basics that pilots use constantly. I’ve also had the chance to talk to air traffic control!
There are two highlights that stand out to me. The first is my independent take off – it was exhilarating to have full control of the plane as it sped down the runway and it made me feel like a proper pilot! At one point one of the wings started to drop away and I noticed and picked it back up, I’m aware that this is a very small thing but I was able to notice this and correct it independently without input from my instructor and this shows me that I am starting to understand and be able to utilise the basic flight controls. My second highlight is when I assisted with a landing and my instructor told me “you did over 50% of that”. Landing a plane still feels very daunting but this felt like proof that it is something I can learn. That comment still brings a smile to my face and shows the wider impact my short time flying has had. Being disabled means I often face people assuming I can’t do things, but this experience shows me I can. I also really enjoy the look on people’s faces when I tell them I’m learning to fly a plane! It’s somewhere between admiration and shock, and I hope it makes them rethink their preconceived notions about what wheelchair users are capable of.
I have a little time left on my scholarship which I am completing in a few weeks time. My goals for these next sessions are to work on independent take offs and then being able to fly accurately on a specific heading. I would also love to experience flying above the clouds and am hoping this is something I can arrange.
I would like to sincerely thank the sponsors for giving me this opportunity. Without their help I would never have experienced the magic of flight; there’s nothing quite like hearing “you have control” and being trusted with an aircraft. It’s given me a confidence that I have carried across to other areas of my life and has allowed me to achieve my childhood dream of dancing with the Royal Ballet School! I’ve now helped set up classes for wheelchair users at the school in London and I’m also aiming to be the first wheelchair user to take a ballet exam. I was terrified to get back into ballet after 11 years away, but if I could fly a plane I could certainly manage a ballet class and look where it’s taken me! After all, if I can fly a plane, what else can I do?”
Isobel Jones - Scholarship Beneficiary