The multi-faceted initiative Attagirls is moving forward to encourage young women to consider a career in aviation and particularly as a pilot. The initiative includes a published novel, a feature film and the Attagirls Molly Rose Pilot Scholarship, all of which were inspired by Molly Rose (neé Marshall), the heroine aviatrix of the Air Transport Auxiliary (‘ATA’) during World War II. Attagirls was created by film producer Paul Olavesen-Stabb who wrote the novel and is now looking for production partners for the feature film.
Applications for the fully funded Attagirls Molly Rose Pilot Scholarship will open on 1st June 2023 and will, for the second time, award full Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) training to an individual who has demonstrated an interest in flying as a career. The successful recipient will obtain her flying training with the Marshall of Cambridge owned Cambridge Aero Club, which was founded as the Marshall Flying School in 1929 by Molly Rose’s father David Marshall. The 2021 scholarship was awarded to 17-year-old Air Cadet Georgia Pescod from Cambridge. After achieving her Private Pilot’s Licence last summer, Georgia will start training for her commercial licence in November.
According to The International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISWAP) published in 2020, only around 5-6% of pilots in the industry (globally) are female. The British Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA) have confirmed that around 6% of pilots in the UK are female.
Paul Olavesen-Stabb of Aetheris Films commented: “The Attagirls feature film, book and scholarship will hopefully encourage young women everywhere to consider a career in aviation. The scholarship is synonymous with Molly’s story as she was not afraid to embrace opportunities that during her time were exclusive to men. Molly was an apprentice engineer at her father’s company Marshall of Cambridge and thereafter a pilot, and at a time when it was extremely rare for women to take on such roles. The mantra of Attagirls is one of ‘courage under pressure’ - a message for young women to have the courage to embrace an opportunity despite its challenges - the challenges in aviation being an arena which is predominantly male oriented.
Paul added: "We are extremely grateful to our sponsors: Marshall of Cambridge, Cambridge Aero Club, Molly’s three sons Graham, Gregory and Nigel, together with the British Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA) together with a personal donation from Philip Meeson, the Executive Chairman of Jet2. We are also grateful to The RAF Club in London for their help throughout the project”.