Awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to civil flying instruction.
(amended Terms of Reference 2019)
Primo Lonzardi is a legendary flying instructor and examiner around the North West of England, and beyond. Having migrated to the UK from Italy in 1970, he has spent the last 50 years flying light aircraft, instructing and examining at various locations around the UK. He is a man of few words and would never talk about his incredible career and achievements. What we do know, however, is that he has instructed at Oxford, Humberside, Sleap, Woodvale, Barton, Manchester International and – for the last 24 years – at Liverpool John Lennon.
Over the years, Primo continued to add to his instructor and examiner qualifications. Countless of today’s airline pilots were taught by Primo on the journey to their present career along with the hundreds of GA pilots who were introduced to the wonders of flight by his passion.
The course he is most famous for teaching is the Flight Instructor Course. He has a unique style of teaching which is charming and relaxed. This is probably why everybody loves to fly with him as he makes the whole experience a pleasure.
Having amassed tens of thousands of hours of flying experience, all in light aircraft, he must be one of the most experienced light aircraft pilots in the UK – if not the world. Despite his experience, he always moves with the times and is passionate about embracing new ideas and new methods. He will always provide nuggets of extra knowledge and tips to the people he flies with, so that even experienced pilots always feel more knowledgeable after a flight with Primo.
Today, he continues to delay a well-earned retirement and can be found still travelling around examining new and existing Flying Instructors. His love of teaching, examining and flying light aircraft meant he turned down a more financially beneficial career in the airlines many times which has been to the advantage of the GA community and world of instructing.
Primo has been part of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots’ Instructors’ Working Group for many years and has contributed hugely to the development of the PPL Flying Instructors’ Guide, Teaching Navigation document and Teaching Stalling document, which are still available on the website. He is a stalwart of general aviation and flying instruction in the UK and is an extremely worthy recipient of the Pike Trophy.
1963/64 L V Worsdell Esq
1964/65 Captain Charles William Cowan Hamilton
1966 not awarded
1966/67 J W (Peter) Peckowski Esq AFC ARAeS
1967/68 Rex A Smith Esq
1969 not awarded
1969/70 Captain F Kirk
1970/71 W H W Lucas Esq
1971/72 Captain C W Sweetman
1972/73 A E Bramson Esq
1973/74 E Claxton Esq
1974/75 Captain Douglas E Batten AFC DFM
1975/76 Captain R R Critchley
1977 - 197 not awarded
1978/79 Captain J Varley
1979/80 James John Forbes (Hamish) Logan Esq
1980/81 Miss Joan Lily Amelia Hughes MBE
1981/82 F C Hector Taylor Esq DFM
1982/83 Sqn Ldr R T Bowring AFC
1984 not awarded
1984/85 Sqn Ldr John B Gratton RAF (Rtd)
1985/86 Sidney Harry Parker Esq
1986/87 Colin Beckwith Esq
1987/88 F J Loveridge Esq
1988/89 John K Hill Esq
1989/90 Sqn Ldr R J Cutler
1990/91 Harry A A Smeulders Esq
1991/92 Captain P W Kennedy
1993 not awarded
1993/94 Captain Donald G (Archie) Kinch DFM
1994/95 Peter F C A Thorn Esq
1995/96 John C Cole Esq
1997 not awarded
1997/98 Harvey R Britten Esq
1998/99 Captain Leonard James Otley
1999/2000 Captain Peter David Godwin FRIN
2000/01 Captain Thomas Michael Dyson
2001/02 Michael Arthur (Rufus) Heald Esq MBE
2003 not awarded
2003/04 Captain George Arthur Bedford
2004/05 William Frederick Arthur (Bill) Ison
2005/06 Captain Andrew Gutteridge
2007 not awarded
2007/08 Richard William Kenneth Snell
2008/09 Captain Richard "Dickie" Bird
2009/10 Ian Bain Mackie
2010/11 Mark Woodhouse
2011/12 Gp Capt Christopher E Gould
2012/13 Andrew Dunstan
2014 - 2015 not awarded
2016 Captain Philip G Mathews MAP
2017 Piers Hugh Smerdon
2018 not awarded
2019 awarded twice:
Dorothy Saul-Pooley
Carol Louise Cooper
2020 not awarded
2021 Primo Lonzardi
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