Smiling Wings Day, Cumbernauld Airport, Glasgow, 21 March 2009

An auspicious date for Cumbernauld visit

A group of children from the Aberlour Child Care Trust, plus a mixture of parents and carers, in total numbering about 20, were invited to be our guests for the day at Cumbernauld Airport near Glasgow. Aberlour Child Care Trust is the largest, solely Scottish, children's charity providing help to vulnerable children, young people and their families.

The chosen date was auspicious in that it marked the 10th anniversary of the first successful circumnavigation of the world by balloon, when the Breitling Orbiter 3, piloted by one of AWB's patrons, Brian Jones, and fellow pilot Bertrand Picard, touched down in Egypt on 21st March 1999.

The weather was bright and sunny and everyone was able to fly, which was fortunate indeed, as some of the group had driven over three hours to attend. Four pilots from The Leading Edge Flying Club shared with AWB the cost of flying the children on four flights. Another pilot, a member of the Scottish Aero Club with his own aircraft, flew to Cumbernauld from Perth to take children on two flights before flying back, and generously donated his services.

A photographer from the forensic department of the Strathclyde Fire Service also generously donated his expertise and took photographs of all the children on their flights. The photos were later presented to them with their Certificates of Achievements.

The airport authorities waived the landing fees. Operations staff, with four trainee pilots assisting, took the children on a tour of the aerodrome. The coffee shop reserved tables for the group throughout the day and the owner provided free home-baked cakes for the children. The staff at Cumbernauld Airport organised the day extremely well and the kindness shown by everyone was impressive.

A great and rewarding day was had by all.

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