Events and Air Smiles Days
Lucas - Air Smiles Day 17th August 2010
Ten year old Lucas has spent much of his life attending hospital appointments so, to give him a much needed day away from the medical environment, his Dad secretly arranged with fly2help a thrilling day out for him at Cotswold Airport in the company of his family and best friend Jake.
Two extremely excited boys arrived at the AV8 restaurant eager to find out what they would be doing that day. Lucas was so keen he actually read out the safety brief to everyone! Unfortunately the weather was slow to improve so the flight was delayed for a while. The group was taken to visit the static Britannia aircraft and kindly given a guided tour by the volunteers who maintain it. The youngsters revelled in sitting in the Captain's seat and posing for lots of photos much to everyone's amusement.
This seemed to have worked up some big appetites for the boys so it was back to AV8 for a leisurely lunch as the low cloud began to give way to sunshine. It was not much longer to wait for the amazing moment when Lucas would take to the skies for the first time ever in his life!
At last the message was received from Kemble Flying Club that Ron the pilot was happy with the weather and ready to get the boys and Lucas' father aboard the Cessna 182. All of us who were present will find it hard to forget the image of two little boys in the back of the plane bobbing around with the excitement of the impending flight waving, grinning and giving thumbs up. The wonder of aviation was working its magic once more. The family members who were left on the ground cheered and waved as the little aircraft and its special load got airborne and headed off into the distance to explore the local area.
Those still on 'terra firma' then went to the Control Tower to listen in on the radios and watch other aircraft using the runway. Finally the Cessna came into view and everyone went to meet it including fly2help's very own Douglas Bear. Lucas, Jake and Michael were grinning like Cheshire cats having obviously enjoyed their flight immensely. Ron the pilot gave the boys certificates and shook their hands which made them feel very important.
Lucas did not want to miss out on seeing the Control Tower so he raced up there to look at everything. Last but not least the boys visited the Fire Section and were given the chance to sit in all the engines, wear funny looking helmets and make even funnier noises with the horns! The boys just couldn't get enough of this and were chatting animatedly to the firemen.
To end proceedings everyone retired to AV8 for much earned tea and cake. Lucas and Jake were presented with fly2help goody bags and fly2help's own certificates. It had been a brilliant and rewarding day for all concerned. Later on Lucas' father said that his son had summed the whole day up by saying 'This is incredible. I will never forget this day for as long as I live'. He then kindly said that "you [fly2help] quite simply makes dreams come true and today you granted Lucas his!"
