UK veterans aviation charity Wings For Warriors opens new flight training center

Wings For Warriors, a UK military charity, has opened a new dedicated flight training center for UK armed services veterans located at Gloucestershire Airport (GLO) in the west of England. The Veterans’ Flying School (VFS), as the new center has been named, was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal on January 16, 2025, and will train veterans as professional pilots on a not-for-profit basis.

Wings For Warriors, which operates its own Piper PA-28 Warrior appropriately registered G-WFWA, was founded in 2012 after founder Mark Radcliffe, then a flight instructor, met an amputee Royal Marine with dreams of becoming a commercial pilot. Since then, the charity has supported more than 30 veterans into aviation careers, including former Royal Engineer Sam Taylor, severely injured in Afghanistan, and now flying as a qualified commercial pilot for a major UK airline.

Wings4WarriorsThe opening ceremony, which was also attended by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Edward Gillespie, began with an introduction by Gloucestershire Airport’s Managing Director, Jason Ivey, and Mark Radcliffe, Founder of Wings For Warriors. The Princess Royal toured the facility, observing a lesson in progress, speaking with instructors and students, and meeting key supporters, trustees, and veterans who have benefited from the program offered by the charity.

“Having our own charitable training school is a game changer,” said Mark Radcliffe of Wings For Warriors. “It allows us to significantly reduce the financial burden of commercial pilot training, with fees around 40% of the standard cost. This makes us an excellent prospect for airlines seeking to partner with an innovative cadet program as an intelligent solution to their recruitment needs.”

“We also have support from leading industry training partners, including Padpilot and Private Radar, so we’re able to deliver a learning experience that is second to none. The net result is a newly qualified First Officer who brings real-world experience, and a work ethic rarely found elsewhere,” he added.

Gloucestershire AirportThe Veterans’ Flying School is an Approved Training Organisation (ATO), offering veterans a pathway to training as airline pilots pro bono. This has been made possible by the generous support of key stakeholders including the UK National CABWI Awarding Body, the Armed Forces Covenant Trust, and the Veterans’ Foundation. The school aims to train six to ten veterans every 18 months, according to a Wings For Warriors statement.

“It’s the least we can do for those who’ve given so much for our freedom,” commented Nathan Gray, CEO of Padpilot and a former Royal Navy Commander. 

“Nothing brings the Padpilot team greater joy than to be able to support these incredible people into the air through the VFS,” added Jason Ivey, Managing Director of Gloucestershire Airport. “We are incredibly proud to be home to the Veterans’ Flying School and we look forward to seeing these individuals soar in their new endeavors.”

The opening ceremony and royal visit concluded with the unveiling of a special commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.  

Gloucestershire AirportAccording to the Wings For Warriors website, the charity is “unique in the way it believes that wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women deserve the best opportunities even after military service has ended. By working with military rehabilitation units, other charities, businesses, and the public, we aim to inspire our wounded warriors to move past injury and achieve new, bright, and sustainable futures. Nobody should ever feel like they have already achieved their best, which is why, for our students, the sky is merely the beginning.”

The website adds, “To move past a life-changing injury or illness it is imperative that our veterans continue to work for themselves and not be ‘spoon-fed’ or simply offered short-term projects or challenges. This is why we use the exciting, demanding, and sustainable world of commercial aviation as an incentive to keep moving forward, stop looking backward, and find a means to continue supporting their families for years to come.”

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