RAeC Awards Cert Merit

Royal Aero Club

Awards & Trophies

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT OF THE ROYAL AERO CLUB

Established in 1985 and awarded to those who, while not eligible for a major Royal Aero Club Award, have served the cause of Aviation in general, or Sporting Aviation in particular, by their work, devotion or initiative.

1985	D. Evans
1985	I. Hewitt
1985	A. Holdstock
1985	L. Pink
1985	E. Sallingboe
1985	E. Wright
1986	Y. Bonham
1986	M. Bird
1986	A. Macfarlane
1986	Lady Tavistock
1987	The Duke of Beaufort
1987	BHGA Competitions Committee
1987	Cdr. C. Davies
1987	I. Kaynes
1988	G. Bryce-Smith
1988	T. Segal
1989	D. Bedding
1989	J. Lane
1989	Britain-USSR Tiger Moth Team
1990	G. Harrison
1990	Pilatus
1990	A. Spiller
1990	R. Whittaker
1991	G. Bennett
1991	S. Greaves
1991	P. Lovegrove
1991	Angela Morris
1991	G. Turnbull
1992	H. Chamberlain
1992	C. Garton
1992	Mary Kingdon
1992	T. Williams
1993	M. Audritt
1993	P. Bish
1993	G. Leason
1994	D. Farthing
1994	R. Mclntosh
1995	James Gilbert James Gilbert joined the Tiger Club in its early days, concentrating on aerobatics and display flying. After six years as an editor with Flying magazine in the USA and writing four books, he took over the magazine Pilot, devoted to general aviation, which now has a print run of 42,000.
1995	Robert Harrison Bob Harrison has worked talentedly and tirelessly for British hang gliding over 15 years. As full-time Training Officer he has played a key role in the development of the sport in Britain and later assumed responsibility for much of the general running of BHGA and of the BAPC after amalgamation.
1995	Torquil Norman & Henry Labouchere Torquil Norman and Henry Labouchere have considerable experience in long distance flying in light aircraft, culminating in their East-West trans-Atlantic flight in a 59 year old de Havilland Dragonfly.
1995	Mark Kirkby Mark Kirkby was captain of the World For Nations Skydiving Championship 4-way team in 1995, whose victory ended a ten year French domination. On the way, the top Team Airspeed set a new FAI World Record point score in the 1994 World Cup in Spain. He was voluntary Team Coach in both the 1993 and 1995 World Championships.
1996	DH Moth Club Diamond Nine Team The De Havilland Moth Club Diamond Nine Team was formed in 1986 as the inspiration of Charles Shea-Simonds. The team has flown its unique sequence at most of the major air shows in the United K ingdom and has several foreign bookings. This volunteer team operates to a high level of professionalism and, where funds have been generated, has made generous contributions to charity.
1996	Chris & Mavis Parker Chris and Mavis Parker have jointly been the secretaries of the Jodel Club since 1983. They edit its newsletter and provide help and information about Jodel aircraft worldwide. Since 1992 they have organised annual seminars on technical and maintenance matters as well as pilotage. Much of the success of the Club, now with several hundred members, has been due to their efforts.
1996	Ken Binks Ken Binks has flown models for over 40 years and today is one of this country's most successful pilots of radio-controlled acrobatic aircraft. He has been British National Champion nine times since 1981, and has been in nearly all of our national teams at World and European Championships, as well as serving on the BMFA's RC technical committee and promoting its pilot proficiency scheme.
1996	David Oddy David Oddy retired in 1996 as the British Parachute Association's office manager, after many years of service to sport parachuting, combining the duties of both the previous development officer and the general secretary. He transformed the AGM from a dull daytime event to a full schedule of e vents that 10% of the membership now attend, and the financial reports show how he boosted the Associations bottom line.
1996	John Pothecary John Pothecary has maintained a practical interest in owning, operating, maintaining and re-building light aircraft throughout his aviation career. This extended from assistant flying instructor to becoming a senior training captain on jet airliners. His experience and wisdom has always been willingly shared, and he has recently restored a DH60G-III Moth Major.
1997	Ian Burnett Ian Burnett has used the opportunities presented by his professional flying on B747s, to lead the historical work of Air Britain on overseas civil aircraft registers. He produces thirty pages of updates every month for Air Britain News and his accurate and detailed work has been a service to a viation history for 25 years.
1997	David Greenwood David Greenwood has worked with diligence and enthusiasm as an aviation maintenance engineer for fifty years. Holding a CAA category A, B, C, D and X licence, he finds time to explain the smallest technical detail to voting apprentices or amateur kit builders amid is truly a 'total aviation person'.
1997	Mike Wood & Nick Neve Mike Wood of the RAF Microlight Association and Nick Neve of the British Model Flying Association acted as the RAeC/World Air Games Executive, co-ordinating the preparations, participation and on-site liaison of the British teams at the World Air Games in Turkey in 1997. Their work paved the way to the British teams' score of 13 medals.
1997	J. Scott John Scott gave many years of dedicated work to the Popular Flying Association's Pilot Coaching Scheme, which he originated and which promotes safer flying and piloting skills. He has been a PFA Inspector on many projects and has enabled similar aircraft be made available to train pilot-builders on the type they are building.
1998	Lettice Curtis. Lettice Curtis flew with the Air Transport Auxiliary during the second world war. She documented the work of the ATA in a book, which was adapted into television programmes. She continued flying for many years, including qualifying for a helicopter pilots licence. She has also been active in supporting the British Women Pilots' Association.
1998	John Stainer. John Stainer has been flying vintage aircraft for 26 years, including several long-distance tours. He has been the European organiser of the Cessna 120/140 Club since 1983, and has been on the committee of the Vintage Aircraft Club for 11 years, including six years as Chairman. He is also actively involved in the work of the General Aviation Awareness Campaign.
1998	Gordon Wansbrough-White. Gordon Wansborough-White's initial involvement in aviation was with Imperial Airways in Kenya before the second World War. He flew Battles, Blenheims and Beauforts during the War. He served on the Council of the Royal Aeronautical Society for 16 years, and was a founder of the Light Aviation Group. He is a fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation and has been organiser of their G-NAV competition for seventeen years. He has held a PPL for 45 years, and is still flying regularly at the age of 80.
1998	Mark Woodhams. Mark Woodhams built and taught himself to fly a hang glider in 1972. He was elected to the BHGA council when it was formed in 1974, He subsequently became Chairman of the Southern Hang Gliding Club, which is the largest in the UK. Since its inception, he has been Chairman of the BHPA committee overseeing the production of Skyways magazine, which has grown to be the world's leader in its field. He was responsible for designing the logos of the BHGA and the International Hang-gliding Standards Organisation.
1998	The Fire & Rescue Crew of the Leicestershire Aero Club. The Rescue Crew is recognised for their prompt and efficient rescue of the pilot of a Formula 1 aircraft which crashed and caught fire following a race there, and were instrumental in saving the pilot's life. The Crew is made up of unpaid volunteer members from the LAC.
1999	C.W. Draper. Bill Draper started flying model aircraft in 1940. He has been a Committee member of the Nottingham MAC for 33 years and of the Control Line Aerobatic Pilots Association for 22 years. He has represented Britain in F2B control-line aerobatics in international competitions, and was European Champion in 1989, as well as being British Champion seven times.
1999	Mike Feaver. Mike Feaver has served the British Model Flying Association for 15 years on the Control Line technical committee and as competition organiser. He has been involved with the management of the British team at several European and World Control Line Championships, where British competitors have won many medals. He has also been Contest Director for 12 UK national Championships.
1999	Dr Michael Fopp. Michael Fopp is Director of the RAF Museum at Hendon, and also a true aviation enthusiast. While working for the Police, he had been Secretary of the Friends of the RAFM, and also an Air Britain specialist on military aviation history. After retirement, he went to work at Hendon as a Research Assistant, and quickly rose to become its Director. He has been a regular supporter of the Royal Aero Club and the Guild of Aviation Artists. He is also building a Lancair kit-plane.
1999	Mary Keefe. Mary Keefe is an experienced microlight pilot, and has been a regular competitor in National and World Championships as navigartor in two-seat classes. She has been responsible for organising many club competitions and plays a key role in the annual Round Britain Rally.
1999	Steve Longland. Steve Longland was an experienced instructor and competition pilot with Cambridge Gliding Club, and after several years as CFI, he has gone on to become a Regional Instructor Examiner. He was the author of the BGA Instructor Manual, and saw its 29 chapters progressively agreed by the BGA Instructor Committee. He is now working on a companion manual on ground lecture subjects. These manuals have set a new standard and have been used as a model by other flight organisations at home and overseas. As well as these volumes, his skills at presentation and illustration have frequently been called on by the BGA Sailplane & Gliding magazine
1999	Muriel Tucker. Muriel Tucker was for 30 years an air hostess and instructor with BOAC and BA. She was a founder-member of the British Women Pilots Association. She has served on its Committee for about 20 years, including the posts of Secretary and Treasurer and has played a leading role in its development. She was a founding Trustee and Secretary of the Amy Johnson Memorial Trust which helps women to become professional pilots.
2000	The British Paragliding Accuracy Team. The team of eight, led by Derek Godfrey, achieved first place in the first Paragliding Accuracy World Championships held at Middle Wallop in August 2000. This was the first time a FAI-CIVL World Championships had been hosted in the UK and most of the team, as well as competing, played a major role in organising the event.
2000	John Carter. John Carter has been parachuting since 1973. He has made over 3000 jumps. and is a qualified instructor in a range of disciplines. He is a Doctor and has been Medical Advisor to the BPA since 1990. He deals with around 300 enquiries a year on a range of wide issues, and is involved with a variety of committees, working parties and training courses, He has played a major part in enhancing the safety of the sport.
2000	Howard Travers. Howard Travers has played a major role in achieving recognition of Paragliding as a sport. He became PRO for the BHPA Competitions committee in 1992 and has been a regular contributor to Skywings magazine. He has organised many Paragliding competitions and attracted commercial sponsorship. He has recently retired after several years as the UK delegate to the FAI-CIVL, which he succeeded in getting renamed as the Hang Gliding and Paragliding Commission.
2000	Ken Wilson. Ken Wilson has been Clerk of the Course and Starter of every national and international handicap Air Race in Britain for the last 15 years. Prior to this, he was a successful racing pilot himself, including being British Air Racing Champion in a Harvard. He currently flies professionally for the CAA. He commands the respect and confidence of everyone in Air Racing.
2001	Robert Bickers. Bob Bickers was British Gliding Team Manager from 1994 to 2001, during which time the Team achieved outstanding international success. With his unique sense of British style Bob endeared himself to competitors and officials alike and made a major contribution to the team’s success.
2001	Rita Boniface. Rita Boniface works tirelessly to raise funds for and to promote the flying and engineering scholarships offered by the British Women Pilots Association. She has encouraged women of all ages to become involved in flying, whether it be fixed wing, microlights or gliders.
2001	Sue Hanisch. Sue Hanisch was a victim of a terrorist bomb at Victoria Station in 1991 and suffered injuries resulting in the loss of one foot and part of the other leg. As a result of this she suffered fear and depression but her life was turned around when she was awarded a RIAT Flying Scholarship for the Disabled. Sue has now gained her PPL and works closedly with RIAT to promote the scheme to others like herself.
2002	Deborah Carter. Debbie Carter has been treasurer of the British Parachute Association for 11 years. Her diligent, reliable and constant work has made a major contribution to the smooth-running and cost-effective operation of the BPA.
2002	Paul Spellward. Paul Spellward was a founder-member of the Bristol University Balloon Club. He became a leading organiser of the Western Region of the BBAC, serving on its committees for many years and currently as its Chairman. He has organised training courses, and led the negotiations for the return to flying after the foot-and-mouth disease problem. He has been an organiser of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. As well as being a first-class organiser, he has taken part in many British and International competitions.
2003	Max Bacon. Max Bacon pursued a successful career in the RAF, rising to Air Commodore, and then 12 years with Marshall's of Cambridge as the General Manager, Marketing. He has been a BGA Gliding Instructor and a PFA Coach for many years. He is Chairman of Cambridge Gliding Club. As Chairman of the BGA Development Committee, he has helped around 100 clubs gain site security and develop their management systems in compliance with regulations. He played a leading role in the negotiations with CAA to establish the NPPL.
2003	Philip Chettleborough. Phil Chettleborough has, for 20 years, been the most successful UK exponent of winch-launched hang-gliding and flat-land cross-country flying. He single-handedly managed the UK National Cross-country League for six years. Though now retired from this, he is still actively flying and made the longest winch-launched UK cross-country flight of 2003.
2003	John Hamer. John Hamer has been the voluntary Chief Check Pilot for the BMAA for 15 years, in charge of appointing Check Pilots to test all microlight aircraft for their annual Permit renewal. He is also a Microlight test pilot and has made a valuable contribution to the acceptance of several new homebuilt designs. He is the Coordinator of the UK Minimax Club, and has run several training courses on the installation and maintenance of Rotax engines.
2003	2494 Squadron Air Training Corps. Over the last four years, 2494 (Portishead) Squadron ATC have designed and constructed an impresive flight simulator. They restored the front fuselage of a crashed glider, and a computer screen was installed to show the instruments. It has been mounted facing a wall where a computer-based landscape is projected, using commercial flight-simulator software. The restoration of the glider fuselage and all of the design and installation of the computer equipment was done by the cadets, and the total cost was less than £3,500.
2004	Rob Noble-Nesbitt. Rob Noble-Nesbitt started parchuting at Sunderland in the 1960's and became Club Chief Instructor. He moved to Brunton after Sunderland was closed. In the late 1970's he became Chief Instructor at Strathallan, where he helped the club develop into one of the most successful in Britain. In 1990 he opened the Stirling Parachute Centre, and when this was sold in 2000 he became Chief Instructor at Errol. He is widely respected for his patience and dedication, and attention to safety.
2004	Trudy Kemp. Trudy Kemp joined the office staff of the British Parachute Association in 1979 as an office junior, but it was not long before her efficiency and organisational skills were recognised. She has a fund of experience and knowledge which has been of great value to successive committee Members and Chairmen of the BPA. She is currently the full-time PA to the Technical Officer and the National Coach and Safety Officer, also serving as Secretary of the Safety & Training committee and the Riggers Committee.
2004	Arnold Parker. Arnold Parker conceived the idea of Sky Watch three years ago, and it now has over 150 members. The objective is to have volunteer pilots with their own aircraft available and trained in basic air reconnaissance, to help the emergency services. It has already had many successes, particularly in lowly populated areas, with things like reporting forest and moorland fires, locating missing people, and finding stolen vehicles. A useful by-product is the good publicity for general aviation resulting from press coverage of their activities.
2004	Andrew Simpson. Andy Simpson is a historian and archaeologist. Following experience with other museums, he joined the staff of the RAF Museum in 1989, and for the last ten years he has been Curator in the Aircraft and Exhibits Department. His responsibilities include custody of the RAeC's collection of historical documents, memorabilia and trophies, and he has supported the RAeC Trust's project of cataloguing and conservation. He has regularly escorted the RAeC's trophies from secure storage at Hendon to the Annual Awards Ceremony.
2004	The ‘Walking on Air’ Charity. The ‘Walking on Air’ Charity was founded in 1998 to provide facilities to enable disabled people to take an active part in gliding. Sponsorship form businesses has enabled it to purchase a K21 training glider, modified with hand controls. This has enabled many disabled people to experience gliding, and in some cases to learn to fly go on to purchase their own suitably modified gliders.
2005	Hugh Browning. Hugh Browning is a glider pilot. As a retirement project, he has carried out a two-year major analysis of the records of over 2,500 accidents and incidents from 1987 to 2004. This has provided valuable statistics and enabled the BGA to focus its safety initiatives on the major areas of concern. His analysis and his ongoing role as a BGA Regional Safety Officer has made a significant contribution to glider safety.
2005	Andrew Cormack. Andrew Cormack has been Keeper of Visual Arts, Medals and Uniforms at the RAF Museum since 1996. This and his previous posts, has involved work on the RAeC collection of archives and memorabilia, which is stored at the museum. He has given many years of advice and support regarding the conservation of the collection, including the restoration of some of the more important pieces. He has also given valuable support to the RAeC Trust in their ongoing project to catalogue the collection, and in the selection of items of particular importance for education.
2005	Jo Halman. Jo Halman was a control-line model flyer, and joined the then Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers as Hon. Secretary in 1976. She has organised the control-line speed contests at the Nationals for 25 years. She has managed the successful UK teams at the European and World Championships since 2001 and has acted as contest director and chief timekeeper at numerous international contests and championships. She is now the secretary of the BMFA control-line sub-committee and the speed specialist body. She is the BMFA Competition Secretary, vice-chairman of its Technical Council and both Assistant Secretary and Technical Secretary of FAI-CIAM. She was involved in organising the free-flight indoor World Championships in the Dome, also the radio-control and control-line power Nationals, and in coordinating space modelling.
2005	Ronald Jenkins. Ron Jenkins joined the CAA after service as an Army helicopter pilot, and has recently retired. He worked in the Training Standards section of Flight Crew Licensing, and became a CAA Member of the Microlight Panel of Examiners. He has championed the cause of Microlight Flying for 15 years and provided invaluable advice and support to the BMAA. He developed a thorough understanding of microlight training and was never afraid to challenge proposals within CAA which he felt were being applied to microlighting in an unhelpful or overly complex way. His influence within CAA has been of great benefit to microlight flying.
2006	Judy Hanson. Judy Hanson became secretary of the RAeC Records Racing and Rally Association in 2001. She brought stability to the Association and worked tirelessly to promote Air Racing. She has
2006	Steve Uzochukwu. Steve Uzochukwu has been an active hang glider pilot for 17 years and is a club coach. He developed an interest in technical issues This has led on to him becoming a frequent contributor to Skywings magazine with a variety of informative articles on hang gliding and paragliding topics, including flight tests and an explanation of the new CEN certification scheme.
2007	John Blackmore. John Blackmore started gliding in 1953. He completed the FAI Silver and Gold badges and a Diamond, and became a BGA instructor in 1961. He has had a long involvement with gliding, gliding instructing, and light aircraft flying including as a tug pilot. He has flown 38 different types of glider, 8000 launches and over 3000 hours. During that time, numerous pilots have benefited from his guidance. He has been an active member of five gliding clubs, relocating as his career evolved primarily with RAE and DRA. He remains an active member of the Kestrel Gliding Club, but is now retiring as an instructor.
2007	Julie Fisher. Julie Fisher has been Treasurer of the Model Aerobatic Helicopter Association for six years. She was responsible for raising most of the finances to send the UK F3C team to Japan for the 2003 World Championships. At the 2006 European Championships at Blandford, she negotiated the site, accommodation, catering, marquees, fuel etc. for the competitors, along with flights and accommodation for Judges and Jury. She is a great organiser and supporter for aviation. The AHA owes a considerable debt to her for all her efforts.
2007	Keith Lomax. Since 1990, Keith Lomax has held several administrative posts in the BMFA and SMAE. While Honorary Secretary, he co-ordinated the modernisation of the Constitution and set up a devolved organisational structure. For the past four years he has been Honorary Treasurer. He also served on the East Anglian Area Committee and as Secretary of Chelmsford MFA. He has taken the BMFA trade-stand to a variety of shows around the country and helped on the stand at the Model Engineering Exhibition and with the DART Children's workshop. He has helped organise the National Championships for a variety of disciplines, including acting as Co-ordinator.
2007	Derek Platt. Derek Platt began gliding with the ATC in 1945 and gained his ‘A’ badge. After a break, he returned to gliding, along with his children, re-soloing in 1986. He completed his silver badge and became a Basic Instructor, and later adding a motor-glider PPL. He has sustained enthusiasm for flying and commitment to the Midland Gliding Club over 24 years. As an Instructor he provided an introduction for hundreds of people on trial lessons. He acts as Launch Director and his practical skills are regularly called on at the club-house. He is a popular Club member, rarely missing a weekend. He has around 900 hours gliding and 300 motor-gliding and, though he was 80 last December, he plans a lot more flying yet.
2007	Jane Wilson. Jane Wilson joined the time keeping team of the RRRA 17 years ago and since then has missed only one race-meeting. She has maintained the RRRA records and allocation of trophies since 1990 and continues to carry out this task. She is now Chief Timekeeper of the RRRA. Through her knowledge and interest of the Association's histories and trophies, she has gained the respect of the air racing fraternity over many years.

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