Aviation Without Borders (AWB) hosted its third ‘Introduction to Aviation Day’ of the year at Cranfield Aerodrome, situated between Bedford and Milton Keynes, on Friday 6th June. The day is named, for obvious reasons, Smiling Wings day, and was supported by EADS, Cranfield Flight Training and TA Flight Training.
Smiling Wings days introduce disadvantaged or disabled youngsters to general aviation. Our guests on the 6th were children from the Disability Resource Centre accompanied by siblings, parents, grandparents, carers and ‘cheer leading’ school friends. Also joining in the fun from the Disability Resource Centre were the Chairperson, Mick Dillon and the Information Manager, Liz Morgan.
The day at Cranfield began at 1030 when Goaty Lewis welcomed the group to the airfield. Goaty, himself a disabled pilot with a PPL, is AWB’s volunteer for Smiling Wings and it was he who had organised the day. A film crew, Ross McCall and Stephen Houson who donated their services, were also on hand to film the welcome and the events of the day. Click on this link to watch the movie ‘Smiling Wings’.
A short introduction to flying and the workings of an aircraft followed and then the Chief Flying Instructor of Cranfield Flight Training, Mike Willoughby, briefed on safety. David Coulson and Donald Putman, the standby pilot, also gave support. The aeroplanes to be used for the flights were parked just outside the viewing area and small groups were then taken by the pilots, Mike Willoughby and Terry Akeroyd, of TA Flight Training, to look at the aircraft and to view the cockpit and controls at close range.
The weather in the morning had not been too good with hazy visibility and patches of low cloud but, by the time the preliminaries were completed and the afternoon beginning, the sun was out and the day turned bright and clear. A large table was set up on the grass in the viewing area and a picnic lunch from Café Pacific (good name!) was enjoyed by all in the sunshine.
As lunch progressed the flying began and the first of the children took to the air. Four of the children were in wheel chairs and had to be ‘manhandled’ into the seat in the cockpit. Fortunately help was at hand in the form of two MSc students at Cranfield University, Trem Levasseur and Symeon Pantelidis, a Greek Air Force officer, who assisted in boarding the children. BBC ‘Three Counties Radio’ also arrived on the scene with a radio car and the presenter, Rachel Brabbins, interviewed guests, parents and pilots for a live broadcast on the Lorna Milton afternoon programme. The afternoon remained bright and sunny with all the children having a comfortable ride in the good visibility and, by 3.30 pm, the flying programme was completed.
After the flying the group assembled in the picnic area and signed flight certificates were presented to all who had flown. Sebastian Pooley of Pooley’s Flight Equipment had donated ‘goody’ bags containing such items a Flight Guide book, a pack of playing cards and a diary, and these were also presented to the children. The pilots were each presented with an AWB pen and a ‘pilot’ bear wearing a leather flying suit and flight goggles. The film crew were also thanked for their efforts and all who assisted were thanked for their contribution.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day and the sunshine, with the picnic in the viewing area, were the icing on the cake. The caring and kindness of the pilots and the support and kindness from all Cranfield meant so much to those who flew. Amongst the children, parents, pilots and all who attended, there were, once again, many smiles.
