Flying Scholarships

Mobil Aviation Flying Scholarships – 2011.

Mobil Aviation together with the other sponsors, The Foundation of the RAAF Association, Victorian Division, The Royal Victorian Aero Club and the 460 Bomber Squadron Trust are pleased to advise the winners of their 2011 Flying Scholarships are Samara Bugter, Jonathan Donald and Alexander Hall.

The Scholarship programme is now in its 13th year and commemorates the contribution that young Australian aircrew have made in the defence and development of Australia. The scholarships are offered to young Australian citizens who are keen to pursue aviation as either a career or a long term recreational interest and are designed to take the winning candidates through to the General Flying Progress Test of the Private Pilots Licence.

Brad Tibb of Mobil Aviation presented Samara, Jonathan and Alexander with their winning certificates at the Dawn Patrol function organised by the Royal Victorian Aero Club at Moorabbin Airport on Sunday 18 September 2011.

Samara is 23 years of age and is married to Beau and they have two sons aged 4 months and 2 years. Samara has completed year 11 and holds a Certificate IV in Nursing.
Samara took a commercial flight to Tasmania when a four year old with her mother and this experience sparked Samara’s fascination with flight.
Samara’s initial goal is to achieve her PPL and later seek a NVFR and Twin endorsement. She is looking forward to taking her family for a fly when she achieves her GFPT.
A long term goal is to gain a CPL and ATPL.
Prior to applying for the scholarship, Samara took a 35 minute TIF with RVAC instructor Matt Rayson. Samara has also had a 35 minute flight in an ultralight.

Jonathan is 18 years of age and in year 12 at Mount Waverly Secondary College.
Jonathan also had exposure to commercial flying as a young boy on a trip to New Zealand and at interview presented a photo of him and his two sisters and a Qantas pilot in the background – The captain’s hat looked good on Jonathan and he treasures the Qantas badge he was given on that day.
Jonathan has independently taken a TIF and plans to go to university in 2012 with a course associated with aviation and law/commerce.

Alexander is 22 years of age and has recently returned from 6 months overseas travel.
His earliest aviation recollection is when his father took him to the 1993 Avalon Air Show as a three year old.
From that time, Alexander has been a keen model builder. Alexander tried to get in to the RAAF however his VCE scores precluded this and he took on a mechanics apprenticeship through the VACC. Alexander has decided that the role of a mechanic is not what he wants to do for a full time career and he has since enrolled at CAE to complete the maths and science required to attempt another application to the RAAF.

Alexander is a volunteer at the RAAF Museum, cleaning aircraft and assisting with restoration work. He aims to complete his PPL.

Samara, Jonathan and Alexander will undergo and commence their training shortly at Moorabbin Airport with The Royal Victorian Aero Club.

Check back to this website in late May 2012 for details of the scholarship program for 2012.

Samara, Alexander and Jonathon, holding their Mobil Scholarship Award Certificates, are photographed in front of Mike Murphy’s Boeing Stearman at the Dawn Patrol.