1 May 2025
“If you can fly a Tiger Moth you can fly anything!” so the saying goes and achieving your Private Pilot’s Licence in the revered 1930s biplane is a great first step.
That’s exactly what’s on offer with the annual Sir Geoffrey de Havilland Flying Scholarship. This year’s scholarship is now open for applications to enable a young person to gain a Private Pilot’s Licence.
This award has been made annually since 2014 and offers training to PPL standard in the de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moths of the Cambridge Flying Group (CFG).
The Scholarship seeks applicants from those with an affinity for vintage and historic aerospace, either as an ambition or are perhaps already working in a voluntary, full-time, or part-time capacity.
The primary purpose of this award is to preserve classic aircraft operation and engineering. This award is not ideally suitable to support someone to train for a commercial pilot’s licence.
“Our aim is to offer a significant opportunity to learn to fly in such an iconic vintage aeroplane as the Tiger Moth, whose lessons in flying skills are as appropriate now as when the Tiger Moth first flew in 1931,” said The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers which offers the scholarship.
No previous flying experience is required, although evidence of a keen interest in aviation is a necessity.
This scholarship for £7,000 will normally fund most of the cost of the standard hours’ training required for a Private Pilot’s Licence with the remainder to be funded by the successful candidate on an hours-flown basis.
Applications for the 2025 award open on 1 May 2025, and the closing date is midnight on 30 June 2025.
Shortlisted candidates will be advised soon after the closing date and interviews for the shortlisted candidates will take place during a selection day to be held on Saturday 23 August at the Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, SG18 9EP.
Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and resident in the UK, and who have not previously been awarded any similar bursary (with the exception of the 12-hour Air Cadet Scholarship).
Candidates should complete the online application form here.
The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers provides a forum for meeting like-minded people whose interests centre on the automotive and aerospace industries, coachmaking and the armed forces.
The Livery offers members and guests the opportunity to meet and dine with senior figures and business leaders, in unique environs within the City of London. It encourages social interaction by arranging events nationally and internationally.
We provide support in the form of educational bursaries to students within our associated industries. We also encourage and promote, within those industries, excellence in design, technical development and commercial significance through commitments to individuals for long-term educational courses.
The company provides scholarships and bursaries for students studying motor vehicle design at The Royal College of Art and aerospace sciences at Cranfield University, City University and Kingston University. Three flying scholarships are also provided for an individual who, in competition, has shown aptitude and determination to become a pilot. We support schools through the Livery Schools Link.
