Cameron ‘Sparrow’ Obst seeks funding for flight scholarships

A Western Downs man wants to expand his flight scholarship program across the region, in a bid to launch the careers of budding pilots. Here’s how you can help.

A Chinchilla pilot who previously set the Australian record for most take offs and landings in a single day, all while raising money for charity, is now seeking help to expand his flight school’s scholarship program.

Cameron Cameron ‘Sparrow’ Obst launched the Kangawallafox Flight School in October last year, naming it in honour of his one-of-a-kind home built ‘Kangawallafox’ 19-1678 plane which he used to complete 145 takeoffs and landings in just seven hours.

Following the launch of his school, Mr Obst created a scholarship program providing 20 hours of free flight training to one student from Chinchilla State High School and one from Chinchilla Christian College.

Sophie was one of two students to receive a flight school scholarship.

“We’ve had a broad range of people from high school students through to mature age people with both men and women getting involved,” he said.

“When I opened the flight school last year I announced a scholarship program to the two high schools in Chinchilla, where I would donate 2o hours of flight education.

“I had a young girl named Sophie from the State School and a boy named Roy from the Christian College and they were awarded the scholarship at the end of the school year.

“Within three weeks of training Sophie was flying solo and she started grade 12 as a pilot, Roy has also finished, he had a few more commitments but he advanced just as quickly and completed it over the Easter Holidays.”

Roy after completing his first solo flight.

Mr Obst now plans on expanding the scholarship program outside of Chinchilla to give more students the opportunity to take to the skies.

“I want to make it an annual thing and expand out of Chinchilla, into Dalby, Miles and Goondiwindi and I want to get more kids involved in some free pilot training,” he said.

“The initial scholarships were funded by myself and now I am asking local businesses for support.

“Twenty hours of flight training is valued at $6000, I have decided to apply a 50 per cent discount to the scholarships so I will contribute $3000 and they will contribute $3000.

“I’ve already had some support and we are part of the way there, one business from Dalby already gave us a $1000.”

Chinchilla pilot takes home silver at national flying event

Mr Obst encouraged local business to support where they could.

“I see it as a way to give back to the local community,” he said.

“I purposely haven’t engaged with any of the gas companies for donations, one I don’t want to take away from any funding the schools are receiving and I also want to promote the business that have donated to show how they are giving back to the local community.

“As far as aviation goes there may be kids who are interested into becoming an aviation pilot and I train them recreationally to get that process started, seeing other kids get the scholarship might encourage other students to get involved, it could have brush on affect to motivate other kids.

“I encourage any students that are interested to have a chat to their schools, I select people for the scholarships based on attitude and behaviour, academic results don't matter, it's about showing kids you don’t have to be the smartest in the class as long as your respectful and have a good attitude.”

Anyone looking to support Mr Obst can contact the Kangawallafox Flight School.