About TCAHS Events
TCAHS Events was created in September 2023 to offer aviation enthusiasts and photographers affordable access to the UK’s wealth of warbirds, vintage and classic aircraft while supporting and promoting the future of historic aviation in the UK and further afield. We do this as an extension of the Thomas Castle Aviation Heritage Scholarship (TCAHS), to which the proceeds from all of our events are donated.
While a new venture, those volunteering for TCAHS Events possess considerable experience organising and running events which involve taking members of the public into airside environments.
Thomas Castle and TCAHS
HAVING INITIALLY taken an interest in motorsport, including building, restoring and racing motorbikes and go-karts, Thomas came to aviation later than most. This wasn’t to Thomas’ detriment as he had an insatiable willingness to learn and perfect his craft, wasn’t afraid to ask questions and would go to great lengths to research and learn new techniques.
Working with his father Ian at Classic Sport Engineering at Sywell Aerodrome, Thomas became a regular fixture at the airfield, striking up a friendship with Richard Grace and going on to work on projects from his company, Air Leasing. Not only had he worked on Tiger Moths, a staple of his and his father’s business, but he worked on the Spitfires, Buchons, Mustang and Thunderbolt in the Ultimate Warbirds stable, with Richard having predicted that Thomas would have gone on to fly warbirds such as these.
Tragically, Thomas lost his life in an August 2019 aerobatics training incident. The de Havilland Tiger
Moth he flew, G-ANTE, was placed into a trust with Ian’s aim to use the aircraft in Thomas’ memory to
provide post-PPL flying scholarships to allow young pilots greater opportunities within vintage aviation.
Each recipient of a scholarship receives five hours of instruction on the Tiger Moth. However, flying is just one aspect of the syllabus. Fostering engineering and aircraft husbandry skills - as well as an understanding and sympathy for both airframe and engine - are of equal importance to the continued operation of a historic aircraft.
The scholarship has received the support of the Light Aircraft Association, Ultimate Warbird Flights, Vintage Engine Technology (Vintech), Sharman Avionics, de Havilland Support Ltd, Vintage Fabrics Ltd and Aircraft Coverings Ltd. Additionally, several well-known warbird and display pilots have offered their services as instructors.
For more information about TCAHS and to learn how to apply for a scholarship, please click here.