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On July 25, 1909, Louis Blériot landed near Dover Castle in Kent, England, in a Blériot XI, becoming the first person to cross the English Channel in a heavier-than-air airplane. Over a century later, in August 2024, that pioneering spirit continued when 17-year-old Isla Watson became the first person to complete an Electric Flying Scholarship from The Air League, an aviation and aerospace social mobility charity founded in 1909.
“I saw scholarship applications were open on The Air League’s Instagram,” Watson explained. “I went to the website to see what was available and liked the look of the Electric Flying Scholarship. I study geography and environmental science at college, both related to sustainability, and I have a qualification in carbon literacy. Being able to combine my interests in aviation and sustainability seemed like an amazing opportunity.”
The three-day scholarship was delivered by charter specialist Saxon Air at its Norwich Airport base in Norfolk, UK. It included five hours of flying on the world’s first certified electric aircraft, the Pipistrel Velis Electro, comprehensive ground school instruction, focused discussions on sustainability in aviation, and optional simulator training.
