Vintage aircraft flying scholarship awarded

The annual Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers Sir Geoffrey de Havilland Flying Scholarship has been awarded to Andrea Troso.

Open for applications from young people of up to 30 years of age who have not previously been awarded any such bursary, the scholarship covers 75% of the cost of 45 hours for achieving a Private Pilots Licence.

The flying for the Scholarship takes place at Cambridge Flying Group who have 68 years of providing vintage aircraft training and Coachmakers Scholarship-winner Andrea will be putting this into action soon.

Andrea is an Italian technician who is resident in the UK. 

Chairman of the Coachmakers Aerospace Awards Committee said: “This year’s award has been made to a young man who has immersed himself in all aspects of vintage aerospace. Andrea has recently completed a two-year course in Aeronautical Engineering and in his spare time currently volunteers to work with vintage aircraft at both Duxford and Old Warden aerodromes. This award will help him achieve his career goal as a vintage aircraft restoration engineer.”

The selection of the shortlisted applicants took place at the Cambridge Flying Group at Cambridge Airport

“It is my uttermost pleasure to have been selected as this year's winner of the Coachmakers' Sir Geoffrey De Havilland flying scholarship," Andrea said. "I have always been passionate about aviation and vintage aircraft but I did not have the means to carry on, but I was a kid with a dream and a burning passion.

"I want to thank the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and CFG for this amazing opportunity which will bring me a step closer to my dream of taking flight, and learning to fly in such historic aircraft is just a privilege".

Andrea Troso