Pilot wins award for crown flight for Coronation

A pilot who created a crown on a map using aircraft tracking software has won an award for her Royal tribute.

Amal Larhlid flew a PA-28 from White Waltham, Berkshire, on the weekend of the King's coronation in May to create the image, with Oxford at its centre.

Ms Larhlid was awarded the British Women Pilots' Association Chairwoman's Trophy which required entrants to follow the theme of "crowning glory".

It is the second year in a row that Ms Larhlid has won the annual award.

She won last year's Chairwoman's Trophy for a similar flight which created the profile of the late Queen in October 2022.

Both flights have helped her raise thousands of pounds for Hospice UK.

In a LinkedIn post, Ms Larhlid said she was "extremely humbled" to win the award for a second year for the "most creative and interesting flight of 2023".

She said: "These awards mean so much to me, as someone who truly believes in the power of pursuing your ambitions and taking action, even when conditions may not be perfect."

A BWPA spokeswoman said: "As an enthusiastic student pilot passionate about sky art, Amal was inspired by the change in the British monarchy.

"She accurately flew a route drawing the crown that King Charles wore for his coronation in May 2023."

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