16 June 2019
The Vintage Aircraft Club has announced that Jon Hartle, who received the VAC’s Liz Inwood Taildragger Scholarship for 2018, has completed his training with maximum marks achieved.
“I was hugely grateful and humbled to receive the Liz Inwood Scholarship award, back in September 2018, at the LAA Rally at Sywell,” said Jon. “I have now completed my taildragger training in a converted Cessna 152, based at Wellesbourne with Take Flight Aviation.
“I relished the challenge of learning something new and unique. The first noticeable difference started with ground handling. With the unusual attitude, using power to get the movement from side to side, all just to make sure you keep to the centreline!
“On take-off, getting the tail up by pushing the stick forward goes against all my PPL training and current flying. This took a little while to get used to, but soon became second nature.
“I have been introduced to three-point landings, wheelers, crosswind techniques and slide slipping, learning all types of difference scenarios.
“We finished off visiting small farm strips to get short take-off and landing experience. This is where I realised how much fun taildraggers are. It has opened up new opportunities to visit new locations and have new adventures.
“I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every second of this conversion. I am always willing to learn something new and greatly enjoyed the challenge. Now I intend to get out and enjoy all it has to offer.”
Applications for the 2019 Liz Inwood Taildragger Scholarship are now open and need to be sent to the Vintage Aircraft Club by the end of July 2019. The scholarship will provide up to £750 toward conversion training and the sholarship will be awarded at the Light Aircraft Association’s Rally at Sywell at the end of August.
