Events and Air Smiles Days
Emily - Air Smiles Day 23rd May 2010
Emily and her parents arrived at Cotswold Airport on a beautiful warm sunny day setting the scene for the
day to come. After introductions to the fly2help team in the AV8 Restaurant, a cool welcomed drink and the
formalities of paper work and safety brief, we all headed over to the static Bristol Britannia aircraft. We
were met by the Britannia volunteers Jim and Mervyn, who conducted a thorough, highly amusing and knowledgeable
tour of the Britannia. Their enthusiasm for their work is infectious!
Steven, the pilot of G-GREY, telephoned to say he would be arriving at 1430hrs so we were able to have a leisurely, chatty lunch in the AVB Restaurant, after which we went to Air Traffic in the Control Tower to hear Steven's approach over the radio and see his arrival. G-GREY is a beautiful aircraft and I think there was a sigh of relief when the family realised they weren't going to fly in a microlight aircraft!
By sheer chance Phil O'Dell was at Cotswold, flying the fly2help Chipmunk aircraft that afternoon. Unknown to the
family we decided that Phil and his co-pilot Ian Craighead would meet up and fly alongside G-GREY for a short
time - wingtip to wingtip! Steven flew down to the River Severn Bridges, and up to Cheltenham, passing over Emily's
family home. The smiles at the end of their 40 minute flight said it all - it was had been an amazing experience full of
adventure and clear blue skies.
We ended the day with a tour of the airfield fire station - something everyone enjoys - the men tend to talk about technicalities, whereas the ladies just like the firemen!
The family departed Cotswold at around teatime talking and smiling about their special day.
