Events and Air Smiles Days
The Doherty Family - Air Smiles Day 21st June 2010
The Midsummer Solstice dawned bright and clear, promising perfect flying conditions for the Air Smiles Day ahead. The Doherty family arrived in time to see 'their' helicopter arrive at Cotswold Airport . This thrilled their son who had apparently been excitedly Googling helicopters on the internet for several days beforehand!
Everyone relaxed with coffee in blissfully warm sunlight as David the pilot gave his brief and used a map to show the family the route that he would be flying with them. There was a 'buzz' in the air as several aircraft took off in style to return to their home bases after the Airshow weekend, including a pair of RAF Tucanos and a Navy Jetstream.
To add to the sense of occasion there was even a jet taking off which had a member of the Royal family aboard. Whilst waiting for the Royal Flight to depart the Dohertys were given a personal tour of the Fire Section.
Finally it was time for their own aviation experience and the Dohertys were escorted out to the Long Ranger helicopter that had been parked right in front of the AV8 restaurant for their personal use. At last the moment had come that their young son had been dreaming of. As the helicopter lifted off up in to a perfect summer sky everyone on board was waving, smiling and giving thumbs up to the fly2help volunteers down below.
Thirty minutes later, after a thrilling tour of the Cotswold countryside, the family emerged grinning from the helicopter and were given a huge surprise as fly2help's very own Douglas Bear greeted them back.
Definitely ready for lunch, the family sat down at their own private table in AV8 which gave them a clear view of the airfield as they dined.
After lunch the family were given a guided tour of the Delta Jets hangar and even managed to view an RAF Typhoon aircraft that was stuck at Kemble with a mechanical fault.
Following this the family were taken up to the Air Traffic Tower to get a bird's eye view of the aeroplanes on the runway. At last, after a packed day it was time to go home but not before the Dohertys had been presented with a fly2help certificate and goody bags for their son.
