Catching up with Lisa Hurley, Flying Start Scholarship winner 2025

One of our 2025 BWPA Flying Start Scholarship winners hasn’t wasted a moment, already using her award to take meaningful steps in her flight training journey. We sat down with Lisa Hurley to learn how she’s put the first part of her scholarship funding to great use.

‘I was over the moon to be awarded the BWPA Flying Start Scholarship – it goes a long way to helping achieve my dream but not only that, it is so important to encourage women to fly. Many find it financially unviable, but scholarships like this help make it possible for so many like me who have been restricted by the cost.

Flights have been limited and very sporadic over the winter months, and I feel the lack of continuity and its impact on progress. However, the flying I have done has been wonderful. Progress is never linear and while I do feel a certain rustiness when I find good weather day, I’ve been armchair flying to practice comms and in-flight checks. It helps; it really does.

My last flight to Southend, in fact all of my recent flights, have involved some crosswind element – so no rest for me! My instructor wanted me to experience the problems you face landing in a gusting 24 knot crosswind – how you may get blown towards the runway on your downwind, how everything speeds up on your base leg in regards to set up and crabbing the final until the last moment – I tend to laugh when I’m nervous…. he thought I was enjoying myself!

I’ve learned some important lessons flying during winter – de-icing the aircraft, rough starts, the sudden lack of landmarks with only a slight smattering of snow and carb heat, carb heat, carb heat! I’ve resolved to not be hard on myself this year – it’s fine to set high standards but learning will always encompass failure, relearning and understanding your fallibilities – there is a fine line between confidence and complacency, and I’ve resolved never to become complacent. I want to a be a competent, safe pilot and so it takes as long as it takes.

I never tire of the join at Biggin Hill – I love the city views, the huge runway, the new lights and surface and of course, lining up behind Moonbeam McSwine… nothing prettier than a gleaming bare metal P51D in my opinion!’