For aspiring airline pilot Jacob Marshall, receiving a 12-Hour Air League Flying Scholarship funded by the Air Cadet Charity was more than an opportunity to fly. It strengthened his confidence, resilience and determination, helping him take another step towards his dream career. His story is a powerful example of how cadet opportunities help young people develop skills for life:

My name is Jacob Marshall, and I have been fortunate enough to receive a 12-Hour Air League Flying Scholarship, generously funded by The Air Cadet Charity. Applying for the scholarship was a straight forward process. I answered some questions online as well as completing an aptitude test. After this, I had the opportunity to interview at the Air League Head Office in London. Receiving the news that I had received a scholarship, 12 hours at that, was completely life-changing - and my greatest achievement to date as an aspiring airline pilot.

I completed my scholarship with Flight Training London at London Elstree Aerodrome. I completed a variety of lessons, including: The Controls, Taxiing an Aeroplane, Straight and Level, Climbing, Descending, Turning, Stalling and Slow Flight, Standard Take-Off and Climb to Downwind Leg, Circuits, Approaches and Landings, Advanced Turning, The Forced Landing Without Power as well as Precautionary Landings.

The lesson I enjoyed most was steep turns - the 2 Gs I pulled in my Cessna 152 really made me feel like a fighter pilot! With this being said, the entirety of the scholarship was immensely enjoyable and reminded me of why I want to be a pilot.

"This scholarship has ensured that I will keep pursuing my dream until I am on the flight deck."
Jacob Marshall, flying scholarship recipient

As someone who had only completed an hour or two of trial flights before this scholarship, the level of multi-tasking required to fly surprised me. Constantly checking airspeed, altitude, slip, location, as well as keeping lookout for other aircraft is exhausting - but a skill that clearly improved over time.

The biggest thing I learned was that resilience is needed to be a pilot. I always assumed this just meant getting into training as a result of the inaccessibility due to the cost, but it goes much further than this. Not every lesson goes well. Sometimes at the end of a lesson, you are just grateful to be back on the ground in one piece.

"Every lesson is a lesson learned, no one is perfect, and while flying training is challenging, it is very rewarding and development is apparent, even from lesson to lesson."
Jacob Marshall, flying scholarship recipient

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My biggest challenge was the radio. I always felt I knew what to say but as soon as information on started getting thrown at me it all went out the window. However, I overcome this with persistent effort and the help of my girlfriend pretending to be an Air Traffic Controller with my flashcards!

I am proud to say that on my final lesson I was able to successfully complete the specific radio call that I had failed on all my previous lessons. A highlight of my scholarship was flying over the runway at Luton Airport; flying surrounded by the airliners made everything feel a lot more real.

"I would not have been able to experience this opportunity if it weren't for the Air Cadet Charity. I have been reminded that I do have what it takes to achieve my dreams."
Jacob Marshall, flying scholarship recipient

When I describe this scholarship as life changing, I mean it. This summer, all the knocks in confidence due to previous rejections were negated, and I have been reminded that I do have what it takes to achieve my dreams. With that being said, perspective is important - I did have to be reminded a few times that I’m not going to be a perfect pilot after just 12 hours in the air!

With my A-Levels now completed, I will be starting at British Airways as a Ground Operations Agent in November 2026, to further develop myself in preparation on for the airline cadet programmes reopening next year.

Whilst I can’t guarantee that I will be successful next year, I can guarantee that this scholarship has ensured that I will keep pursuing my dream until I am on the flight deck. I would not have been able to experience this opportunity if it weren’t for the Air Cadet Charity, so for that I am extremely grateful.

To any aspiring pilots out there considering applying, please do not hesitate, and remember that the sky is not the limit.

By Jacob Marshall