The Monaco Air League has announced the Orleans-Borbon Prize Winning Essay Contest, funded by Prince Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon, one of the association’s four patrons.
A generous award of €2000 should stimulate interest towards aviation among young students, with the Prince’s proposed essay theme on: “Leonardo da Vinci designed a working flying machine already 500 years ago. Why did it take half a millennium to realize the dream of flying?”
The contest is open to anyone up to the age of 21, and can be written in English or French, with a maximum two-page submission, single-spaced, standard Times 12 font.
“Exceptionally extensions may be tolerated if contents justify them,” Christopher Foyle, the President of Monaco Air League, tells Monaco Life. “We also ask participants to indicate any sources to prevent plagiarism,” he added.
The deadline is March 1, 2017. Essays can be submitted to christopher.foyle8@gmail.com
As it wrapped up its second year, the Monaco Air League reflected on 2016, including the cocktail reception on Sir Stelios’ terrace on September 6, when 160 guests were treated to two exciting presenters, the young and captivating Melanie Astles, and by “Q”, Quentin Smith, helicopter pilot extraordinaire.
The evening raised €3000 on drinks, which was matched, kindly, by Sir Stelios for a total of €6000.
Other highlights across the year included a visit late July by six students from Monaco who went to the Vulcan Restoration Centre in Doncaster, where they had the opportunity to help restore a Vulcan nuclear bomber and a Canberra.
Donors Marcel Elefant, Brian Gitlin, Christopher Foyle and Sir Stelios renewed or pledged scholarships funds, and the Air League awarded several bursaries to students who had passed the BIA (Brevet d’Initiation Aeronautique) in the summer.
And the possibility of a Monaco Air Display was proposed to the Committee and is envisaged for 2018.
Finally, the launch of the new website had hit a little turbulence but airleague.mc is said to now be a work in progress. (Feature photo: Antonio Litterio)
Article first published December 12, 2016.