ASPIRING young pilots from Stroud met with former Red Arrows team member Mike Ling at Cotswold Airport to launch another year of its youth flying scholarship scheme.

Former scholars Mary Witcombe, Harrie Siebenaller and Barney Rowland, from Cherington, are all striving for a career in the skies since completing the popular programme, which gives budding aviators the chance to experience flight and receive expert guidance from a team of airborne professionals.

Flight lieutenant Ling, 31, who started his own career after taking part in a similar scheme as a teenager, is encouraging all young people with an interest in flying to sign up to the scholarship, which last year saw a record number of applications.

"Out of the guys I was in the Red Arrows team with, a fair portion started out on flying scholarship programmes too," he said.

"Who knows, the students taking part in this year’s programme could go on to become the Red Arrows of the future."

Funded by airport owner Ronan Harvey and run in conjunction with the airport-based charity fly2help, the programme also includes tuition at the airport’s aviation ground school and gives students first-hand experience of the work of air traffic controllers, flying instructors and aviation engineers.

Mary, 15, who now hopes to pursue a career as a fighter pilot, said: "Mike is definitely someone to look up to and aspire to be like. He is an inspirational person.

"I applied for a place on the scholarships to gain experience and get the right contacts and it has certainly helped me do that."

Harrie, 17, who is interested in becoming a helicopter pilot, added: "I have always had a real passion for aviation and the scholarship gave me the opportunity to gain experience of all aspects.

"Meeting Mike was fantastic – like an ambition come true.

"His own story makes you realise what is achievable."

Fellow teenager Barney made headlines himself earlier this year after completing his first solo flight before he had even passed his driving test.

There are currently around 10 places left to fill on the scheme, which runs from April 11 – 21 The closing date for applications is January 31 and interviews for the short-listed candidates will be held the following month.

Application forms are available to download now at www.fly2help.org