Cleaning Friday at Blackbushe

Thanks to everyone who turned up at Blackbushe last Friday in a great effort to get 'Yankee Yankee' and 'Foxtrot Mike' gleaming for our open day. Thanks also to the support of Frasers Aerospace who supplied us with complimentary cleaning materials. The days work was finished off with a rendition of Happy Birthday for volunteer Isabel who had kindly given up time on her special day to support us. Great effort gang, and thanks a lot.

Lucky Louise Wins a Flight

Lucky Louise Edwards of Aylesbury has taken to the skies above the Imperial War Museum at Duxford (IWM), thanks to Back Up, Gowrings Mobility and Aerobility. Louise won a competition through Back Up.

Said Micah Jorrisch of Back Up “We were very pleased to work with Gowrings Mobility and Aerobility to provide such a unique experience to one of our supporters. Our Facebook page was inundated with people eager to win the competition, but Lucky Louise won out! Working together like this goes to show that both Back Up, Aerobility and Gowrings Mobility are dedicated to helping people live confident and independent lives.”

The flight took place during the Gowrings Mobility Roadshow at IWM. The facilities at IWM offered an exceptional opportunity to work with Aerobility to give some lucky visitors a most inspiring experience – a 20 minute flight above the museum taking control of the specially adapted plane.


”Louise told us, “I had an excellent day and an exhilarating flight. I was a little nervous to take to the air but actually loved it and can't believe the pilot actually let me take control of the plane! Thanks to everyone involved for making it a memorable day. Who knows, maybe I will take to the skies again soon, it has certainly inspired me.

"Flying is Freedom" Says Derek

Aerobility were delighted to fly Derek Carpenter recently when he visited the Imperial War Museum at Duxford after winning a competion run by Gowrings Mobility. 64 year old Derek didn't let his disability stop him from taking to the skies and piloting a plane with Aerobility Instructor James Brown.

He said: “No sooner had we climbed to a thousand feet and the pilot James said to me, ‘The controls are yours Derek…’.

“What an experience, what joy. We flew near to where we live, Haverhill.

“All the time I was completing turns, climbing, descending, having a Ball.

“All too soon we turned back to Duxford, passengers comfortable, me buzzing.

“James asked me to hold the controls whilst he landed which I have to say was very exhilarating, then he let me taxi back to the hanger.

“It does not really matter what disability you have, with human spirit and determination obstacles can be overcome.

“You must try this, flying is freedom, and it empowers you.”

Derek, who has Prostate Cancer, type 2 diabetes and poor mobility, is involved with Cambridge Cancer Help Centre.

It was while researching some information about a wheelchair accessible vehicle for someone else at the centre that he heard about the competition.

He enjoyed an exhilarating and inspiring flight in Aerobility’s 4 seater plane.

His wife Rosemary and Ted Sage, the chairman of the trustees for the Cambridge Cancer Help Centre were his passengers.

Aerobility Flies Veteran Pilot at Duxford

MEMORIES flooded back for Second World War pilot William Hands when he took to the skies above the Imperial War Museum, during our recent flying event at Duxford.

William, 88, who also flew in action during the Korean War, said: “Flying again was great; it was easier to get in and out of the aircraft than I had expected.

“However, I would have liked to have done some aerobatics during the flight!

“The icing on the cake was going around the museum and seeing so many of the planes I had flown in during service.”

During the Roadshow at the Imperial War Museum, William viewed 19 of the 23 aircraft he had piloted including a Sea Fury, a plane he flew during the Korean War.

First Solo of the Year at Blackbushe

Steven "Monty" Monteith made a little bit of Aerobility history when he completed his first solo at Blackbushe recently. Our first this year.

Monty, who is sponsored by Battle Back, is pictured being congratulated by his instructor James Brown. We look forward to the celebrations when he completes his course; a great effort.

Support from Kent Strut

Gary Smith and John Dean from the Kent Strut of the LAA flew into Blackbushe on Tuesday to present us with a cheque for money raised by BBQ's, a Fly-in, Raffle and other fund raising activities

Many thanks to all at the Strut for your support, good to know the LAA community are behind us.

Happy Christmas

The office at Blackbushe will reopen on Tuesday 3rd January 2012.

A very Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year from all of us at Aerobility.

Aerobility and NATS Fly the Flag Together

Aerobility were recently invited to the NATS (National Air Traffic Service) Corporate & Technical Centre Charity Christmas Fayre.

As NATS chosen charity of the year, this was an opportunity for us to further the Aerobility message to NATS staff. We were most impressed by the level of awareness and enthusiasm shown by everyone, and are really looking forward to next year’s Big Push and other events that our friends at NATS will be holding in support of Aerobility.

Congratulations Simon on completing your PPL

'Wow - I have finally passed my PPL!  Never thought I can pass all the exams. Firstly, I would like to thanks Aerobility to allow my dream to come true.  Also a big thank you to Mike Owen for his guidance and advice throughout the whole course.  Now my next step is to complete my ATPL and hoping one day I will become a commercial pilot.'

Aviators Ball auction prize becomes global news

Sky News

Daily Mail

More Prizes for the Ball Auction

Aerobility supporter Darren Thompson popped in to see us today, and while he was here at Blackbushe donated some more fantastic prizes to be auctioned at the Ball. Darren, who works at Odiham, generously brought along a Flying suit as worn by the Army Apache Display Team, and other Apache memorabilia.

The Aviator’s Ball 2011 targets £100,000 for Aerobility

The event is the fifth Aviator’s Ball, the target is £100,000 for the Aerobility disabled flyer’s charity, and it’s time to book your tickets.

This fabulous fundraising night – this year on Saturday 26^th November - has become the definitive end-of-season event in the aviation social calendar, providing a glorious evening of top class entertainment, dining and dancing.

And the prizes being auctioned at this year’s Ball are finer than ever – including a stunning package of flying experiences for two hosted by Breitling in Switzerland as the showpiece of a range to suit all tastes and wallets.

Guests can bid on a host of flying experiences, goodies from the Red Arrows and others, and aviation days out. Maybe tea at the House of Lords with paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is more your sort of thing, or a private ladies’ shopping trip at a high-class lingerie shop.

Last year’s Ball, attended by more than 400 people, raised some £82,000 for Aerobility, and the £100,000 target this year would make it realistic for the charity to begin the renewal of its ageing aircraft fleet with a brand new Piper Archer.

Mike Miller-Smith, CEO of Aerobility, says:

“The four second-hand aircraft that we currently operate are becoming more and more expensive to run due to increased maintenance costs in particular. A new aircraft would cut costs and improve reliability.

“The Aviator’s Ball is our biggest single fund-raising exercise each year. It’s a wonderful night for everyone, and both sponsors and guests will know that they have made a serious contribution to keeping disabled fliers in the air.”

Once again the black-tie event is being held at the luxury Sofitel Hotel at Heathrow Terminal 5 where an overnight accommodation package with breakfast is on offer to Ball guests for just £95+VAT.

Ball tickets are £90 and include arrival drinks and canapes, gourmet three-course dinner with wine, coffee/tea and chocolates plus the auction, live band for dancing and additional entertainment. Tables of ten are discounted to £810.

-Ends-

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