The application window for this year’s series of Royal Aero Club Trust (RACT) bursaries is closing at the end of March and so those interested in applying are advised to act quickly. The March deadline runs inline with The Air League’s powered and gliding scholarships who also require applications to be submitted before April.
Each year RACT awards bursaries to 14–21-year-olds (or up to 24-year-olds for advanced bursaries) interested in numerous types of air sports and aviation-related activities including paragliding, gliding, hang-gliding, parachuting, microlight aircraft, helicopter, light powered aircraft and the designing, building and flying of model aeroplanes and drones. The bursaries are divided into four categories:
Flying bursaries
To apply, applicants must already have a basic qualification (solo in the case of light aircraft and gliders, and the equivalent in other sports) in an air sport recognised by the Royal Aero Club and who wish to progress to the next training stage.
Flight Simulation bursaries
These bursaries are for Personal Computer/flight simulator pilots who wish to obtain practical experience of flying or other air sport.
Aeromodelling (including drone) bursaries
Aeromodelling bursaries are awarded for designing, building and flying model aeroplanes, including indoor & outdoor flight, free-flight, control line, pylon racing, radio-controlled, rotary wing, and rocketry and for multi-rotary (i.e. drone) flying provided that applicants are sponsored by the British Model Flying Association (including the British First Person View Racing Association).
Advanced bursaries
A limited number of bursaries are also available to committed air sport enthusiasts who have benefitted from an initial bursary and who are subsequently selected to compete in international and national competition or other similar high-level achievement or activity to the benefit of the individual and the air sport. In this instance, applicants can be up to 24 years of age.
The scheme is part of RACT’s Flying for Youth programme and 35 bursaries were offered in 2023 with recipients able to start their training before Easter. The awards are valued at £500 – £1,000 each and this year include:
- The Pooleys Flight Equipment Bursary
- The Lord Peter Cruddas Foundation Scholarship
- The Andrew Brownsword Bursary
- The Bramson Bursary
- The George Farha Bursary
- The John Downer Bursary.
- The Crocker Family Bursary
- The Lord Graham Kirkham Bursary
A number of additional bursaries worth up to £500 each to suitable candidates are also granted each year. The RACT says that no applications were received in 2023 from balloon pilots and microlight pilots, who are encouraged to apply for future bursaries.
For more information visit the Royal Aero Club Trust.
