Call for Entries: The Sixth Annual Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots

Entries are now being accepted for the sixth annual Richard L. Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots.

$5,000 first place and $2,500 second place awards for pilots up to age 24

The Richard Collins family has once again partnered with Sporty’s to offer The Richard Collins Writing Prize for Young Pilots. To qualify, the writer must be a pilot (including student pilot) who is 24 years of age or younger. The article must be original, not previously published, and no longer than 1,500 words. The topic should be “my most memorable flight.”

The winning articles will be published at Air Facts, the publication Richard’s father, Leighton, founded in 1938 and which was relaunched 12 years ago by Sporty’s as an online magazine. The articles will be judged by a panel of three: Richard Collins, Jr., Amy Laboda, and J. Mac McClellan.

“Since launching this contest in 2019, the Collins Prize has encouraged hundreds of young pilots to reflect upon their aviation experiences and pursue their passion for writing,” says Sporty’s President John Zimmerman. “We’re honored to celebrate Richard’s legacy with this inspiring writing contest.”

Once again two prizes will be awarded. Both the first place and second place articles will be published in Air Facts, while their writers will receive a check: $5,000 for first place and $2,500 for second place. The winners will be announced in April.

Articles may be submitted now through March 7, 2024, and sent in as a Word document to [email protected]. In addition, young pilots are required to submit a 100-word biography to accompany their articles.

For more information and to read the 2023 winning articles, click here.