Senior Aircraftman (SAC) Tavi Marok of Parachute Engineering Squadron, RAF Brize Norton, has been recognised by Commander Air Wing, Group Captain Simon Blackwell, for completing a Flying Scholarship run by Lyneham Flying Club, a military charity affiliated to RAF Sport Aircraft.
SAC Marok was awarded the first ever Air Commodore Mike Barnes Memorial Scholarship and has completed 14 hours flying training. Tavi flew his first solo at Kemble Airfield on 5 May 2021 in a PA28 aircraft.
The scholarship was established by Lyneham Flying Club in memory of its founder member, Air Commodore Mike Barnes, who was an enthusiastic pilot and former Station Commander at RAF Northolt and Squadron Commander at RAF Brize Norton. Mike’s widow, Alison Barnes, was welcomed to RAF Brize Norton to see SAC Marok receive a certificate for his achievement.
SAC Tavi Marok, Survival Equipment Technician said:
“I feel so incredibly honoured to be a part of the RAF where you don’t just get to serve the Nation, but also get the chance to make your dreams come true. For me, one that just came true is ‘flying’. A huge thank you to Lyneham Flying Club for awarding me this scholarship, it was so delightful to meet Alison Barnes at the presentation and get to know Air Commodore Mike Barnes through her, such an inspirational person.”
Senior Aircraftman Tavi Marok
Survival Equipment Technician
Wing Commander James Sjoberg, Lyneham Flying Club Chair said:
“SAC Marok should be very proud of his achievement, he fought off strong competition to receive the first ever Mike Barnes Memorial Scholarship, and then worked extremely hard on his flying during the Covid-19 pandemic to get to solo standard this month. Lyneham Flying Club are very grateful to RAF Sport Aircraft for helping us select him as a candidate.”
Wing Commander James Sjoberg
Lyneham Flying Club Chair
The Mike Barnes Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually for people from all three services, regardless of rank and age. Applications for the 2021 scholarship should be directed to Lyneham Flying club via their website.
Group Captain Simon Blackwell, Commander Air Wing said:
“The Mike Barnes Memorial Scholarship is an excellent opportunity to provide service personnel with access to flying experience. As the inaugural recipient, SAC Marok has been outstanding, working hard to complete the scholarship amidst the complications of the pandemic while also delivering Parachute Engineering Squadron’s essential outputs. His first solo in really good time is something I hope he will cherish; he should be rightly proud!”
Group Captain Simon Blackwell
Commander Air Wing
