May - August 2009
Wow, what a fantastic few months I've had! I don't know where to start. I've met so many new people and made so many new friends it's just unbelievable! I've also now got my own Facebook page!
I've been introduced to so many people at exhibitions, air shows and several of AWB's Smiling Wings Days. I've also taken some pretty amazing flights on some extraordinary aircraft. You'll be so jealous!
The Smiling Wings Days or flying experience days were amazing. They took place at Cumbernauld, Fairoaks, Barton, Perth and Cranfield airfields. They were great opportunities to either fly for the first time or experience the excitement of going up in a small plane which is so, so different from those big jets we all use when we go on holiday.
In June at the AeroExpo Exhibition I helped AWB to explain to the aviation world the exciting work it was doing. We had great fun with our famous "Wheel of Fortune" and many people won prizes. At the Biggin Hill Air Show there were thousands of people there and hundreds came to visit AWB's stand. I had my photo taken with many of them of course! And once again the "Wheel of Fortune" was a great attraction!! The flying displays were pretty amazing too! I really loved watching the Red Arrows flying display. (Not boasting or anything - but I have of course already flown with Red1!)
In July I was invited as a VIP guest, along with several friends from recent Smiling Wings Day, to the EADS hospitality suite at RIAT. What mind-blowing air displays they had there as well! We were even able to have a go with the controls of a French Air Force rescue helicopter and an American Hercules transporter. The mouth-watering food laid on was pretty amazing too! Thank you EADS. And, yes, I even flew in the Typhoon's solo display during the afternoon!
I have also been on some other pretty awesome flights too recently - with my log book of course! These ranged from a Junkers JU52 and Messerschmitt to an Airbus 320 and Hawk trainer. One of the more bizarre ones was the trip I took with Swedish pilot Mikael Carlson when he flew his replica of the Blériot XI during the re-enactment of Louis Blériot's historic first flight across the English Channel on 25 July 1909 - that's 100 years ago! Because of weather problems at Calais which stopped him flying at the very last minute, he flew the next day and landed successfully at Dover - just like Blériot all those years ago. Mikael signed my log book of course and so I was able to add this extraordinary flight to my long list!
Don't forget to keep in touch. You can also write to me at amy@aviationwithoutborders.org or via my web page and of course you can take a look at my Facebook page - and see if you can find a picture of yourself at one of the events!
May 2009
Welcome to my first blog!
Let me tell you about some of my flying experiences.
I've got my own log book which records the aircraft I fly in, the time, date and the aircrew. I have flown in a Spitfire and a Hurricane - perhaps Amy Johnson would have flown in one of those too - isn't that something!
I've also flown in a Lancaster, Chipmunk, and a Cherokee. I have even flown in a hot air balloon - at Baron Hilton's 'Flying M Ranch' in northern Nevada, USA. And - how about this - I've flown with the Red Arrows at Farnborough (that's me in the photo) and jumped with the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team!
I was also invited by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to take part in the 60th anniversary of the Berlin airlift. I flew to Berlin in a DC3 from RAF Coningsby, with a cargo of sweets, chocolates and toys for children's charities in Berlin and got a mention in Flight International magazine. Fame at last!
And now EADS, my favourite supporter of AWB and other members of our European 'family' of aviation charities, is very kindly producing a page for me on their website. Even more fame!
And do you know, I already have my admirers! And one (I think he must fancy me) has even written a poem about me.
I hope you'll continue to follow my adventures and amazing flights and see how 'just plane caring' AWB is and the worthwhile humanitarian contributions it makes.
Watch out for my next blog!
