Events and Air Smiles Days
Saxon and Dean - Air Smiles Day 26th October 2011
On a crisp and cool October morning two special families arrived at Cotswold Airport for their much awaited Air Smiles Event. Full of anticipation, they awaited the arrival of the fantastic Socata TBM700 Turbo propeller aircraft. After the arrival welcome by the fly2help team, Ashley the pilot soon arrived in his wonderful aeroplane. Saxon, with his mum Jeanette and sisters Maddison and Bayleigh-May, together with Dean and his mum Lucy and partner Gary, looked on in amazement as the aircraft landed and proceeded to taxi to its parking position. It was to be their own 'personal' aircraft for the day! Both families have experienced difficult times due to the issues involving learning or behavioural difficulties, physical problems and social isolation suffered by Dean and Saxon. The families were simply thrilled to be given the chance to enjoy an exciting day out together and hopefully put aside, for a few hours, the many issues that they face on a daily basis. It was even more special to them that, quite by chance, they knew each other from their same local area on the south coast.
As the sunshine began to break through, Saxon and his family flew first. They boarded the gleaming aircraft with smiles that stretched from ear to ear. Soon they took off and headed west to fly over the Severn Estuary and its two bridges, over South Wales and then across the North East Somerset Coast. They returned back to Cotswold Airport via Cheddar Gorge. As they stepped off the aircraft there was much grinning and enthusiastic chatter. Saxon's older sister Maddison commented that she would love to learn to fly as she had had such a fantastic experience! During this flight Dean, Lucy and Gary were in the control tower listening to the air traffic communications and watching the aircraft activity on and around the runway.
Soon it was lunchtime so everyone retired to AV8 for a welcome hot meal and some drinks. Feeling refreshed Dean, Lucy and Gary flew next in the TBM700. Dean couldn't wait to get airborne as he loves anything to do with aviation. During the next 40 minutes the family trio enjoyed the sights of the countryside, following a similar route to that of the first flight. Meanwhile Saxon and his family also enjoyed a visit to the control tower.
Finally, everyone visited the static Bristol Britannia XM496 and heard stories, from volunteers Eric and Merv, about this historic aircraft's illustrious past. Dean, Saxon and Bayleigh-May were particularly thrilled to be able to sit in the cockpit of the Britannia.
To round off the day the families were given tea and cake in AV8 and Ashley presented fly2help goody bags to all the very happy youngsters. Everyone returned home full of amazing memories, excitement and, of course, plenty of Air Smiles!!
From Lucy:
"Dean seems a lot more confident and positive in himself and he will look back on the day he had and it will give him great pleasure in knowing that he did have the confidence to fly. We had a great day and everyone was very kind to us, I felt all your team put in a massive effort to talk to us all individually and make us feel welcome and safe."
From Jeanette:
"We had a fantastic day at the airport, we enjoyed the flying, control tower and looking round the Britannia. Everyone that helped was really friendly and looked after us so well. It was the best feeling to know that Saxon and our family had a day out that we will always remember and for that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
