Coachlines - November 2024

29.11.24 Steward Neil Sheath

Award winners announced at Aerospace Industry Dinner 2024

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The number of applications for awards has continued to increase this year, with some being received even before the awards are advertised. The quality of applicants and their purpose has continued to be remarkable, with outstanding individuals from a variety of diverse backgrounds keen to become associated with the Livery. The awards are proving effective at helping young people to enter and establish themselves in aerospace engineering, offering not only early opportunities which might not have been available otherwise, but also in supporting them beyond their early career with our alumni and mentoring programmes.

The feedback individuals have given is genuinely telling and complimentary to the Livery’s programmes. We also engage with youngsters who applied for an award but were unsuccessful, as there are many who are capable, demonstrate real potential and are worth supporting, but we don’t have sufficient resources to support all those we would like to. These comments are inspiring and a true reflection of how our investment impacts and benefits the lives of these young people.

UNIVERSITY AWARDS

All of our university awards support project work or other additional academic or practical support to provide materials, equipment or assist with an additional research project which will enhance an individual’s degree studies. All awards are now open to applicants under the age of 35 from the following universities:

• Cranfield University
• Imperial College London
• City, University of London
• Kingston University, London
• Brunel University London
• Queen Mary University of London
• University of East London

THE SIR SYDNEY CAMM SCHOLARSHIP

This award is in memory of the outstanding designer Sir Sydney Camm CBE FRAeS who, during his lifetime, designed more than 50 aircraft types, from the Hawker Hart of the 1930s, through the iconic Hurricane and Hunter fighters, to his vision for the VTOL Harrier. The scholarship is open to students studying for a BSc in aeronautical engineering subjects. This year two awards were made.

David Konya is a first year student studying for a BEng (Hons) Aeronautical Engineering at the University of East London (UEL), our first award recipient from UEL. David lives in the east end of London and is a graduate of the aviation operation college programme managed by Freeman Simon Witts at the London Design and Engineering University Technical College. David impressed the panel, having achieved three distinction star grades at extended diploma level, these are A level equivalent grades. David has used the award funds to purchase IT equipment and ease his commuting burden, which has allowed him to concentrate on his studies and reduce his reliance on any loaned equipment and resources. David is now in his second year, and outside of his studies, enjoys badminton, and engineering-based hobbies. He is keen to complete his studies to a high standard and start a career in aerospace engineering.

Maria Gutu moved to the UK in 2017 and at the time could not speak English. She studied and learned the language sufficiently to be accepted into Brunel University to study for a BEng in aerospace engineering. Maria was selected for the award during her second year of study, to support her work as an intern at Rolls Royce, a part time engineer producing high quality bearings, as well as studying, without any family support. Maria is also an accomplished long distance runner, who has completed six marathons and raised considerable funds for children’s charities. In her own words:

I am deeply passionate about sustainable solutions in the aviation industry, and I regularly dedicate time to staying informed on innovations that can help reduce the environmental impact of air travel. Outside of engineering, I’m passionate about long-distance running, and I’ve finished six marathons while raising more than £3,000 for Children with Cancer UK and Get Kids Going. Running is a big part of my life, and I love the sense of freedom and accomplishment that comes with each run. It teaches me the value of perseverance, focus, and pushing beyond my limits, lessons I apply in both my academic and professional life.

Before receiving the Coachmakers’ Sir Sydney Camm Scholarship, I excelled in my Aerospace Engineering studies at Brunel University, achieving top grades in key modules such as Engineering Mathematics and Programming (A+), Engineering Business (A+), Aerodynamics (A), and Thermodynamics (A*). I was also fortunate to be selected as one of two engineering students from Brunel to participate in a four-week research project at Kasetsart University in Bangkok during May-June 2024. Additionally, I secured a year-long placement with Rolls-Royce.

Post-award, I successfully completed the summer exchange in Bangkok and began my internship with Rolls-Royce at the end of June. My immediate goals are to successfully complete my internship, gain deeper insights into quality engineering and its application in the aerospace industry, and to graduate with a first-class degree in Aerospace Engineering from Brunel University. Building a strong professional network and collaborating with industry leaders to address environmental challenges in aviation are also key aspirations as I work towards making a meaningful impact in the field.

Winning the Coachmakers’ Sir Sydney Camm Scholarship has had a profound impact on both my personal and professional life. The award enabled me to relocate to Bristol for my year-long internship with Rolls-Royce, a pivotal opportunity in my career. Professionally, the scholarship has granted me access to a world-class engineering environment at Rolls-Royce. Working alongside industry experts and contributing to real projects has significantly developed my technical skills and understanding of the field. The hands-on experience I’m gaining is invaluable and has already broadened my perspective on engineering. This internship is laying a strong foundation for my future career and is giving me the tools and confidence to excel in the industry.

On a personal level, being selected for such a prestigious award made me feel proud of my abilities and assured me that I was on the right path in my engineering career. It motivated me to pursue my goals without hesitation and gave me the belief that I could thrive in a challenging new environment. Overall, the scholarship not only opened doors to opportunities but also empowered me with a mindset that I can excel. It has given me a level of self-assurance that I carry with me into every new challenge, fuelling my ambition and helping me grow as a person and an engineer. In the next 10 years, I aspire to become a leader in the aerospace industry, focusing on developing sustainable technologies that can significantly reduce aviation’s environmental impact. I aim to make a meaningful contribution to addressing climate change through engineering and innovation.

I am deeply honoured and grateful to have been selected as the recipient of the Coachmakers’ Sir Sydney Camm Scholarship. This recognition is a significant milestone in my professional journey, and I truly appreciate the confidence and support it represents.

Thank you for acknowledging my efforts and potential within the aerospace field. I look forward to making meaningful contributions to the industry and ensuring that the values of innovation and sustainability are at the heart of my work.
Once again, thank you for this incredible honour.

THE SIR FREDERICK HANDLEY PAGE SCHOLARSHIP

This award is in memory of the great aircraft pioneer and industrialist Sir Frederick Handley Page CBE FRAeS who, among his many other appointments and achievements, was a principal lecturer at City University London and, in 1943, a Master Coachmaker.

Chibuzo Victor Chimeka is studying full time for a MEng in aerospace engineering at Brunel University. Victor moved to Ireland with his family as a young boy and impressed the panel in how he turned his life around through his own awareness and efforts to achieve high grades at school and entry to university. The award is specifically supporting Victor’s project studies about hydrogen powered engines by providing equipment and resources which he may not have otherwise have access to. Victor spends his spare time in scientific research, bible study and training. In his own words:

My most notable recent achievement is my dissertation and my aircraft propulsion course. In my dissertation I took a different route from what my supervisor set for me, in doing this I explore the world of hydrogen while also outlying what can be done to increase energy, decrease emissions and successfully engage in the hydrogen economy. Given my passion in aircraft and spacecraft I was able to achieve 100% in that exam which was meaningful to me. There are also many more goals that I have in mind after the receiving this award. That is, to complete my MEng degree with a 1st class, to establish a very good final year project, that will render me useful in big and impactful companies.

Personally, the reward has made education much more enjoyable. This award has shown me that there are caring people out there, like those in the Coachmakers who care for students, helping them reach their career goals. This in turn has put me in a position to always strive to be the best I can be. This is important to inspire future winners of this award. Professionally, this award has allowed me to mature. As it is, this award is very competitive and for sure the other students who won this will go on and do great things in the world. For this reason, I have developed a strong motivation to not give up during difficulties, but persevere, so I also can be as successful as they will be.

My career aspiration is to contribute to the aerospace engineering industry in the furthering of high-level propulsion in the integration of high performing aerospace engines. To also help realize Africa’s potential in the aspects of energy and technological advancement. If such is achieved in my career by God’s grace, I will be confident to credit it as successful.

From the bottom of my heart, I will always be grateful to God, and to the Coachmakers for this opportunity presented to me, and will never take it for granted.

THE ERIC BEVERLEY BURSARY

This award is in memory of Eric Beverley CBE DFC – Commercial Director BAC Weapons Group, President of the Society of British Aerospace Companies and, in 1978, Master Coachmaker. The Bursary is awarded to a PhD student conducting research into an aerospace engineering subject. It is intended as a ‘value added’ award by supporting separate research projects which add value to the knowledge and content of the winner’s final PhD submission thereby opening further research opportunities not otherwise made possible by the University or by a sponsoring company.

Emmanuelle Karine Rosati Azevedo is a full time aeronautics research PhD student at Imperial College London and part time Propulsion R&D Engineer at URA Thrusters Ltd. The award has been made to provide additional specific specialised equipment which is not otherwise available to Emmanuelle for her research project. The Livery co-ordinated closely with staff at Imperial College to purchase the equipment through their university resources to ensure best value for money and technical compliance, and the equipment will permanently reside within the aeronautics department when Emmanuelle has completed her PhD. Outside of her studies, Emmanuelle enjoys cooking, reading science fiction, and practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Emmanuelle has notably co-authored a journal paper which was selected as a featured article in the Journal of Applied Physics, been a beneficiary of the UK Space Agency SPINternship scheme and has led a proposal bid writing effort which resulted in the award of industrial research projects with total costs of more than £2 million. Emmanuelle has also secured a PhD research award through the European Space Agency Discovery & Preparation programme, co-authored three journal papers and eight conference papers, as well as beingthe main author of six conference papers. Emmanuelle has a strong interest in making vital contributions to her field, through further publications in high quality journals after the award.

Emmanuelle said:

This award has provided key funding for experimental work within my thesis, enabling me to meet the ambitions I have to provide high impact contributions to my field.

My main career goal in the short term after my PhD is to gain further competencies in probe diagnostics and in laser-based spectroscopy for plasma propulsion through post-doctoral work. After this, my aspiration is to bring these scientific competencies back into industry, with a view to gain more practical skills in engineering for space flight qualified systems.

I am very grateful to the Coachmakers for this award. It has given me significant peace of mind in knowing that I have the funds available to meet my scientific ambitions.

Since being recognised by the Livery, Emmanuelle has been offered an interim position to design and produce specialist instrumentation and has credited the award in helping to achieve recognition for Best Paper in the Session at the 38th International Electric Propulsion Conference in June 2024, and being an invited speaker at the 77th Annual Gaseous Electronics Conference in October 2024.

ENGINEERING AWARDS

THE CAPTAIN ERIC “WINKLE” BROWN SCHOLARSHIP

This award was established in 2017, awarded in memory of the late Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown, the most-decorated pilot in the history of the Royal Navy, who flew 487 types of aircraft, more than anyone else in history. He died in 2016, at the age of 97, having been sworn to the Livery and attended our Aerospace Dinner the previous year. He also holds the world record for the most aircraft carrier deck take-offs and landings (2,407 and 2,271 respectively) and achieved several ‘firsts’ in naval aviation, including the first landing on an aircraft carrier of a twin-engine aircraft, an aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage, a jet propelled aircraft, and a helicopter. The award is for maintenance skills, preservation and development in the form of courses, tools or supporting young engineers in developing their fabrication and ‘hands on’ skills. Two awards have been made during the Livery year.

Jacob Gamble is an apprentice heritage aircraft fitter at Lancaster Restoration Company, which specialises in aircraft structures, fabrication and restoration. Jacob is a classic engineer, who has already made use of his award funds to complete a Fabric Covering Course and purchase tools for this skill as well as for sheet metal work. He is also due to attend further sheet metal skills courses this winter. Outside of work Jacob enjoys carpentry, motorcycles, golf, pool and snooker and vehicle heritage skills. In addition to using the award effectively to enhance his skills, Jacob is becoming one of the first mentees of the Livery mentoring scheme.

Adam Watson was employed with Navy Wings when he was selected to receive the award, and has since changed jobs, and relocation has occupied much of his time. Adam delayed the purchase of tools to ensure best use of the award funds by selecting appropriate courses and tools for his new role. He is also embarking on his Part 66 B licence studies and will soon attend a fabric covering course, and is also exploring the possibility of achieving a Light Aircraft Association licence.

THE VICTOR GAUNTLETT SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship is awarded in memory of Honorary Air Commodore Victor Gauntlett, entrepreneurial businessman with a lifelong interest in vintage and classic cars, aircraft and our armed forces who, at his untimely death in 2003, was Master Coachmaker and destined to become Chairman of the Air League. The award is for maintenance skills preservation and development in the form of courses, tools or supporting young engineers in developing their fabrication and ‘hands on’ skills.

Angus Sambrook works at Navy Wings and has been active in supporting its aircraft on the air show circuit this summer. Angus has saved his award funds to undertake courses during the winter so not to conflict with his support for Navy Wings aircraft at summer airshows.

Prior to receiving the award, Angus completed a degree in aircraft maintenance engineering, achieving a first class result.

Since receiving the award Angus has worked with Navy Wings to improve the skills he learnt during training and to obtain a greater understanding of the challenges involved with operating vintage aircraft types. Recently, he has focused on obtaining experience with aircraft under the LAA regulations, with the intention of using this knowledge and attending LAA courses funded by the award, to apply for an LAA engineers’ licence in the coming year.

Angus has used a portion of the award to purchase specialist aerospace tooling which he has been using extensively on the restoration of the second Navy Wings Chipmunk. This further enables him to take his skillset outside of the charity and pursue other restoration projects within the wider industry.

THE AEROTRON SCHOLARSHIP

This significant initiative was launched in 2017, and was made possible by a generous donation to our Charitable Fund by the owners of Aerotron, who are our own Liverymen. The aim of the award is to fill an important gap in aerospace engineering maintenance skills and is designed to help a direct entry engineer who has entered the industry at junior mechanic level and aspires to become a licensed aircraft engineer but would not be able to without some additional support. The award makes a significant contribution to the cost of achieving a B1 or B2 aircraft engineer’s licence and thereby help winners onto the maintenance supervisory ladder.

Luke Gordon works at Oriens Maintenance Services at Biggin Hill, where he started as a supply chain trainee in the stores and worked his way up through more senior supply roles and then on to achieving his aim of working as a mechanic in the hangar. He completed his engineering diploma and A licence which has occupied much of his time, and has prepared him to make effective use of the award to achieving his B licence. Luke’s initial courses, funded by the award, are booked and he is studying for his module 3 electrical fundamentals, having already passed modules 1 and 2.

Luke is now progressing with his studies, through his B licence modules. He has recently been promoted to lead mechanic, with responsibility for managing other mechanics and leading checks when a licensed engineer is unavailable. Outside work, Luke modifies and maintains his own cars and is an active gym user and kickboxer. Luke commented:

This award has allowed me access into my B modules without the great personal financial burden these courses bring, and that I could not otherwise have accessed.

Being awarded the scholarship has also brought a great sense of pride, as well as furthering my own self-belief in my progress and determination for my own success.

THE SIR GEOFFREY DE HAVILLAND SCHOLARSHIP

This award is in memory of British aviation pioneer and engineer Captain Sir Geoffrey de Havilland OM CBE AFC RDI FRAeS whose Mosquito, among his many other designs, has been considered the most versatile warplane ever built. The scholarship also includes a contribution from the Sir David Arthur Marshall Trust and enables a young person displaying a keen interest in flying and vintage aviation in general to gain a Private Pilot’s Licence on a De Havilland Tiger Moth with Cambridge Flying Group.

The purpose of this scholarship, in addition to helping a young person to achieve an ambition that might otherwise not be possible, is to help support the preservation of vintage aviation and heritage aircraft skills.

The award for Livery year September 2024 to August 2025 was presented to Harry Aitken. Prior to receiving the award, Harry studied Aerospace Engineering with pilot studies at university, where he graduated with first class honours. He now works for Kennet Aviation at Old Warden, as a Computer Aided Design (CAD) engineer, where he takes parts of vintage and classic aircraft being restored, constructs engineering drawings and identifies and sources the correct or approved replacement materials. Harry’s work allows parts of aircraft being restored to be remanufactured to airworthiness standards.

Harry says:

This award has made me truly believe that if you work hard enough for something, you will achieve it. Professionally I work on-site at Old Warden, so I am surrounded by people who always encourage flying. It’s a great opportunity to learn, network, and improve myself as a pilot.

My main career aspiration for the next 10 years involves remaining in the restoration of Kennet Aviation’s ongoing Supermarine Seafire project, and future projects, including a F.22 Spitfire, F.XVII Seafire, and a F.46 Seafire.
I will also work towards the ability to display at airshows. This is something I have always dreamt of doing, and this award is a crucial step towards making it a reality.

Finally, I am aiming to begin my own design engineering company, which I will use to hopefully remain heavily involved in all of Kennet Aviation’s restoration projects.

I am very grateful for this award, and the opportunities it will present.