20 January 2025
A new flying school exclusively for UK military veterans to train as professional pilots has launched at Gloucestershire Airport.
Princess Anne officially opened Wings4Warriors’s new Veterans Flying School last week. It’s a not-for-profit initiative to train veterans as airline pilots while cutting training costs by an incredible 40%.
The opening day started with an introduction by Gloucestershire Airport’s Managing Director, Jason Ivey, and Wings4Warriors’ founder Mark Radcliffe.
As the Princess Royal toured the facility, she chatted with instructors and students, catching a glimpse of a lesson in action. She also met with veterans whose lives have been transformed by the programme, like Sam Taylor, a former Royal Engineer who overcame severe injuries from Afghanistan and is now flying for a major UK airline.
Mark Radcliffe, who launched the charity in 2012 after meeting an amputee Royal Marine with dreams of flying, says this school is a total game changer.
“We’re cutting the financial burden of pilot training and offering airlines a unique cadet programme with veterans who bring unmatched real-world experience and work ethic,” he said.
Wings4Warriors is backed by training partners Padpilot and Private Radar, with support from organisations like the CABWI Awarding Body, Armed Forces Covenant Trust and Veterans’ Foundation. The school plans to train 6-10 veterans every 18 months.
Nathan Gray, CEO of Padpilot and former Royal Navy Commander, added, “It’s the least we can do for those who’ve given so much for our freedom.”
