Awarded to the most meritorious student pilot graduating from a college or school of civil or military aviation and nominated by the Principal or Commanding Officer.  Particular consideration will be given to the candidate’s progress during the course, including qualities of character, leadership, involvement in sport, recreation and voluntary service, in addition to flying and academic achievement.

2010 awarded to: CAPTAIN DAVID PARKER RCAF 

Captain David Parker's aviation career began at age 16, when he joined the Air Cadets and quickly earned his gliding wings. He was then accepted for the Central Flying Scholarship Programme in 2002, which enabled him to complete his Private Pilot Licence in just a few weeks over that summer.

The following year, Capt Parker began his studies at the Royal Military College of Canada, and in his second summer began Phase I Pilot Training in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, on the Slingsby Firefly. Completing his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2007, Captain Parker’s flying training continued, first in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where he flew the Harvard 11, and then after being selected for helicopter training, he returned to Portage for Phase Ill Pilot Training, where he flew the Bell 206 Jet Ranger and then received his Wings on the Bell 412.

While pursuing his rigorous academic studies at RMC, Capt Parker also fulfilled numerous demanding leadership roles, including Cadet Flight Leader, Divisional Staff Officer, and while serving with the University's Cadet Wing Staff, Capt Parker also served as the Assistant Public Affairs Officer. For his efforts, Capt Parker was selected as the Top Air Element Graduate of his class.

Maintaining this high personal standard of achievement, at the completion of his Phase II Pilot Training in Moose Jaw, Capt Parker stood first in his class in flying performance and second in academics. Then, during his Phase III Pilot Training in Portage la Prairie, Capt Parker was first in his class for both flying and academics. When receiving his Wings, Capt Parker was awarded the Group Captain Acheson Gosford Goulding (MC, WC, Croix de Guerre and MJD) Award, for being the rotaryâwing student with the highest overall performance in officer development, academics and flying skill. Then, Capt Parker was also selected to be the recipient of the prestigious Top Hat Award, which is presented to the rotaryâwing student characterised by his/her peers and flight instructor cadre as the student who, through his/her flying ability, time, effort, good spirit dedication and sense of humour, contributed the most to improving the flying standard, morale and good fellowship of their course.  Representing great respect and admiration from both peers and supervisors alike, the Top Hat award is one of those rare prizes whose significance cannot be overâstated.

Also, because CF pilot training is an inherently and highly competitive enterprise, what made Capt Parker really stand out among his peers throughout this period, was his totally unselfish nature. This was perhaps best demonstrated through his routine organisation of group study sessions, which sacrificed much of his personal time, but greatly assisted his course-mates who were experiencing significant difficulty with their own training. This act dearly displays Capt Parker's sense of teamwork, duty, initiative, ethics and leadership.

Capt Parker is a natural leader who has consistently demonstrated an ability to excel in all aspects of his duties. He has a calm and professional demeanour, a natural and charismatic ability to express himself, and a seemingly innate ability to consistently perform well under pressure. Ever looking for ways to assist others, Capt Parker could always be relied upon to volunteer his energies towards activities that serve the greater need, be it fundraising for earthquake relief for the people of Haiti, contributing time and effort to the annual United Way campaign, or helping to provide support to other local charities. Without question, Capt Parker is an officer and aviator worthy of both admiration and emulation.

Capt David Parker, through his unwavering commitment to excellence and teamwork, has consistently demonstrated the highest levels of skill and leadership throughout his officer and flying training.  Being chosen by his peers and supervisors alike, as the student who contributed the most to improving the flying standard, morale and good fellowship of his course, Capt Parker is the kind of officer who inspires others to achieve more.  His performance, unselfish nature, sense of duty, pleasant demeanour, impeccable deportment, sound judgement and commitment to others, is recognised by the award of the Sir Alan Cobham Memorial Award.

Previous Winners

Sir Alan Cobham Prize

1966 Captain F H Hawkins

1967 Not Awarded

1968 Not Awarded

1969 Not Awarded

1970 Captain M A Lewis

1971 Captain Hugh Dibley

1972 Not Awarded

1973 Not Awarded

New rules for award now called:

THE SIR ALAN COBHAM MEMORIAL AWARD

1974 G S Vaizey Esq

1975 J V Fanning Esq

1976 Laith Al-Omar Esq

1977 N C Lewton Esq

1978 Pavlos Attalides Esq

1979 Michael Joseph Sheen Esq

1980 David Stanley Balman Esq

1981 Paul Tomlinson Esq

1982 Rudolf Van Berkel Esq

1983 Robert Martinus Page Esq

1984 Alan Robert Beurle Esq

1985 Lee Boon Hup Esq

1986 Chee Tuck Lai Esq

1987 Gurmit Singh Esq

1988 Not Awarded

1989 Stephen Riley Esq

1990 E D Troy Esq

1991 Michael G Edwards Esq

1992 Wilson Wai Yin Tang Esq

1993 Simon Galvin Esq

1994 Miss Candice Hinrichsen

1995 Martin Peter Goddard Esq

1996 Mark R Bishton Esq

1997 Stuart J Geddes Esq

1998 Nicholas Talboys

1999 Jacob Sorensen

2000 Mark Cameron

2001 Richard Driscoll

2002 Ilkka A Tahvanainen

2003 Donald Nwajei

2004 Jessica Mary Telford

2005 Not awarded

2006 Stephen A Robinson

2007 Charles Waters

2008 Vincent Dusseau

2009 Kelly McQuaid

2010 Captain David Parker RCAF