23 August 2017
Two Dundee-based pilots are about to fly a ten-day circumnavigation of the UK to promote women in aviation.
Rachel Foyle and Claire Birch are embarking on the trip in honour of Evie Saunders who, ten years ago, bestowed an aircraft to Tayside Aviation. The pair hope to entice more women into aviation. At present, only 12% of UK pilots are female, with the worldwide figure even lower at just 6%.
Evie Saunders had a great interest in aircraft and flying but did not take to the air until 1959. In 1985, by then aged 64, she began her studies and flying lessons, receiving her pilot’s licence in 1989 at the age of 68. She went on to obtain a night-rating, instrument-rating and twin-engine rating.
When well over the age of 70, she entered and won a number of flying competitions and the Jean Lennox Bird Trophy for the most outstanding British woman pilot of the year in 1992.
Evie became ill in 2003 and set out to purchase an aircraft for the benefit of helping young people to learn to fly, confiding only in her niece, Lorraine Richardson. Evie died in 2004 but Lorraine set out to ensure that Evie’s dream became a reality. In 2008, a Piper Warrior, reg G-EVIE, was donated to Tayside Aviation in Dundee, to run scholarships on behalf of the Air League Educational Trust.
Claire and Rachel are about to set off on a ten-day UK tour in G-EVIE.
Now, Rachel and Claire are preparing for ‘Evie’s Grand Tour of Britain’ to fly round the UK in G-EVIE. In between flights, the girls will be documenting their trip on a blog as well as through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Rachel, now 23, began her PPL training at Prestwick aged 16, flew solo later that year and gained her PPL fixed wing licence at 18. She’s one of 15 women currently enrolled on the BSc Professional Pilot Aviation Practice course at Tayside Aviation.
“For most school-leavers and women generally, becoming a pilot isn’t necessarily an obvious career choice. My grandpa gave my brother a trial lesson for his 17th birthday, and I had the opportunity to be the backseat passenger. I immediately caught the flying bug, and began my training a few months later. Evie was a truly remarkable woman and we hope that our trip will keep the spirit of Evie in the skies and inspire others to realise their aviation aspirations.”
Claire, 35, from Buckinghamshire, began flying at the age of 14 following a gift voucher lesson from her Dad. She went on to become an RAF navigator spending ten years in the back seat of a Tornado fighter. She’s now Safety Officer at Tayside Aviation and working towards her Commercial Pilot’s Licence
Evie’s niece Lorraine said, “My Aunt Evie would have been so thrilled and excited about the tour and full of praise for Rachel, Claire and Tayside Aviation, especially James Watt for organising it. Thank you for keeping Evie’s dream alive.”
Subject to change, the trip will go from Dundee – Durham – Syerston – Norwich – White Waltham – Compton Abbas – Bournemouth – Dunkeswell – Lands End – Swansea – Caernarfon – Kirkbride – Newtonards – Prestwick – Oban – Inverness – Kirkwall – Dundee.
