Flying Scholarships for Disabled People

What Flying Scholarships for Disabled People does

Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP) is a UK-registered charity founded in 1983 by Paul Bowen, co-founder of the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT). Structured as a company limited by guarantee (No. 08112334, Charity No. 1148914) and headquartered at Douglas Bader House, Fairford, Gloucestershire, FSDP awards fully-funded flying scholarships — valued at £15,000 (£12,500 with Gift Aid) — to disabled adults, with selection conducted over a three-day process at RAF Cranwell and training delivered through a network of approved partner flying schools (Sherburn Aero Club, Bristol Aero Club, Compton Abbas, ACS Flight Training Perth, Shadow Aviation, and others). The organisation operates with one General Manager (Lou Buckley) supported by a board of trustees and an admin assistant, with HRH Prince Feisal Bin Al Hussein serving as patron.

FSDP's product portfolio comprises core Flying Scholarships, an £11,000 Bursary Scheme for ex-scholars, the Scholars' Scholar peer-funded programme, the Big Wing app (a members-only alumni/community platform), a branded merchandise e-commerce shop, and the 300 Club monthly lottery. Its technology footprint is minimal — there is no proprietary AI, software-as-a-service product, or IP portfolio; the Big Wing app is the only digital product. Revenue is generated entirely through donations: corporate and trust sponsorships (Boeing, Red Arrows Trust, British Airways High Flight, Mark Long Trust, Wings Around the World, RAF Charitable Trust), individual donations, merchandise sales, and the 300 Club lottery. Named-scholarship models and ongoing sponsor relationships are central to the funding model, with scholars receiving public recognition at the annual RIAT presentation ceremony.

Go-to-market operates on three motions: a community-led pipeline of disabled applicants applying via the website and progressing through RAF Cranwell selection; direct-to-consumer engagement with prospective scholars and corporate sponsors emphasising CSR benefits; and an event-driven calendar anchored by the RIAT ceremony, Christmas parties, regional Northern Wing events, and BBQs at partner flying schools. The customer base is bifurcated between scholars (the beneficiaries, awarded at a low single-digit-to-low-double-digit annual cadence) and corporate sponsors (the paying customers, concentrated in a small number of aviation-linked trusts and corporates).

Name

Flying Scholarships for Disabled People

Legal name

Flying Scholarships for Disabled People

Website

https://fsdp.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FSDP is a UK charity, founded 1983, that awards fully-funded flying scholarships (c. £15,000 each) to disabled adults, with selection at RAF Cranwell and training delivered through approved partner flying schools. It is funded by corporate sponsors, donations, and a members' lottery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Aviation Scholarships

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Disabled flying scholarships
• Aviation training grants
• Disability charity programs
• Pilot scholarships UK
• Flying bursaries

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors fund individual scholarships at £15,000 for a full scholarship or £11,000 for a bursary. Sponsors receive recognition on the FSDP website, in scholar presentation brochures, annual newsletters, and can attend FSDP club events and the scholar presentation ceremony at RIAT.
2. Individual Donations: Individual supporters donate to the charity. The 300 Club (formerly 200 Club) is a monthly lottery draw where participants pay to join and prizes are awarded, generating funds while engaging supporters.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including clothing (polo shirts, hoodies), accessories (mugs, water bottles, keyrings, pin badges), and specialty items. Prices range from £2 for ballpoint pens to £35 for hoodies.
4. Bursary Scheme: Ex-scholars who have shown progress during their scholarship can apply for bursaries to continue flying training. Funded at £11,000 to provide additional flying hours towards obtaining a pilot's license.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FSDP provides fully-funded flying scholarships and bursaries to disabled adults across the UK, enabling them to learn to fly at approved flying schools and progress towards a Private Pilot's Licence. The charity runs a three-day selection process at RAF Cranwell, partners with approved flying schools nationwide, and supports scholars through an alumni community (Big Wing App) and ongoing bursary funding for continued training.

Product overview

Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP) is a UK-based charity offering a portfolio of aviation-based programmes for disabled adults. The core offering comprises Flying Scholarships (valued at £15,000) that provide disabled adults with life-changing flight training experiences, and a Bursary Scheme (£11,000) for ex-scholars to continue their journey towards a pilot's licence. Supporting these core programmes are the Big Wing App (a members-only community platform), the Scholar's Scholar peer-funding programme, and the 200/300 Club monthly lottery for fundraising. FSDP also operates an e-commerce merchandise shop selling branded aviation-themed clothing, accessories, and commemorative items. The charity organises community events including BBQs, Christmas parties, and the annual Big Wing Tour, with all activities coordinated through their website and the Big Wing digital platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flying Scholarships Fully-funded flying scholarships awarded to disabled adults, valued at £15,000 (or £12,500 with Gift Aid), providing flight training at approved UK flying schools to help scholars work towards a Private Pilot's Licence, build confidence, self-esteem, and future aspirations.
• Bursary Scheme A continuation programme for ex-scholars who have shown progress during their scholarship but lack the means to continue flying training. Valued at £11,000, it provides additional flying hours towards obtaining a pilot's licence, with scholars committing to use the hours within 2 years.
• FSDP Merchandise Shop Online shop selling branded merchandise including limited edition commemorative items (40th Anniversary ballpoint pen), clothing (polo shirts, hoodies), accessories (caps, bags, keyrings, badges), drinkware (mugs, water bottles), and aviation-themed items, with flat-rate £2 shipping to UK addresses.
• Big Wing App Members-only digital community platform connecting FSDP scholars and alumni, providing access to scholar stories, event information, alumni updates, and allowing members to share scholarship journey experiences.
• 300 Club Monthly Lottery Monthly fundraising lottery (formerly 200 Club) where supporters purchase tickets to win cash prizes (£68 first prize, £35 and £14 secondary prizes), generating funds to support FSDP scholarship activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 scholarships awarded in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal Air ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSDP selection process takes place at RAF Cranwell. The RAF provides facilities and staff support for the three-day selection process. The motto 'Per ardua ad astra' (Through adversity to the stars) reflects shared values.
• PooleysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAviation equipment supplier that supports FSDP events. Came to support the Big Wing Tour at Shoreham. Provides sponsorship of events and visibility.
• Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest military air show. FSDP shares founders (Paul Bowen) with RIAT. RIAT hosts FSDP's Scholar Presentation Ceremony annually. The 200 Club and bursary scheme were officially launched at RIAT.
• Typhoon Display TeamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo appears on FSDP sponsorship page, indicating support for the charity.
• Fiona Luckhurst / Shadow AviationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlying instructor with 35+ years experience teaching people with disabilities. Her flying school near Salisbury has provided training on specially modified microlight aircraft since 1993.
• Sherburn Aero ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved flying school where 2026 scholars Matt and Gavin train. Located near Leeds. Hosts Northern Wing events and BBQs. Supported by Mark Long Trust for scholar Gavin.
• Bristol Aero ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlying school where multiple scholars have trained. Hosted BBC Points West filming. Site of scholar Albert's first solo. Location for Christmas parties in the South.
• Compton AbbascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlying school where scholars including Jane Shelton, Albert Thomson, Niamh, Tamla, and others have trained. Featured in Big Wing Tour.
• ACS Flight TrainingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlying school in Perth, Scotland where 2026 scholar Kieran Pestridge trains, sponsored by Red Arrows Trust.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Help for Heroes: Major UK military charity supporting wounded, injured, and sick UK service personnel with recovery and rehabilitation, including some aviation-linked activities. Significantly larger scale and broader remit than FSDP but overlapping beneficiary base.
• SSAFA: UK's oldest tri-service military charity supporting serving personnel, veterans, and families across welfare, mental health, and skills. Overlaps with FSDP's broader veteran-facing population but offers far broader support categories.
• Royal Air Forces Benevolent Fund: Long-standing welfare charity for current and former RAF personnel and their families. Shares institutional RAF ties with FSDP (the RAF Charitable Trust sponsors FSDP scholars) and serves an overlapping RAF-affiliated beneficiary population.

Others

• Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF UK): UK charity using light aircraft to deliver humanitarian aid and medical support in remote regions. Provides insights into charity-aircraft operations but serves a fundamentally different beneficiary base.
• British Women Pilots' Association (BWPA): UK organisation supporting women in aviation. Has previously chosen FSDP as a beneficiary (50th birthday celebrations in 2009). Ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.
• Combat Stress: UK military charity providing specialist mental health treatment to veterans. Adjacent in serving disabled UK military populations but with no aviation component.

Emerging players

• LightHawk: US-based nonprofit leveraging volunteer pilots to provide aviation support for conservation and environmental causes. Thematic parallel in charitable use of general aviation, but no direct overlap in beneficiaries or services.

Regional players

• Able Flight: US-based nonprofit providing flight training scholarships to people with physical disabilities. Same mission and core model as FSDP, but operates exclusively in the United States and does not compete for UK scholars or sponsors.

Direct peers

• Wings for Warriors: UK military charity providing mentored flight training scholarships to wounded service personnel. Uses the same core model of fully-funded flight training scholarships for disabled adults, but with a narrower beneficiary segment focused on wounded veterans.
• Aerobility: UK charity providing disabled people with access to aviation through trial flights, flying lessons, and scholarships. Operates the same core niche as FSDP — flight training for disabled adults in the UK — and is the closest direct peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/_fsdp_
• Xx.com/fsfdp
• Facebookfacebook.com/FlyingScholarshipsForDisabledPeople
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flying-scholarships-for-disabled-people

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Flying Scholarships for Disabled People