• Raise funds and awareness so that FSD can continue to make the dream of learning to fly for FSD scholars come true – learning to fly has made a real positive difference to the well being of the scholars, but also is a great way of making people aware that people with disabilities lead fulfilling, inspiring and active lives.
• By travelling the length and breadth of the British Isles (including stops in Channel Islands, England, Wales, Man, Scotland and Northern Ireland) in one day the flight hopes to create national awareness
• By visiting as many of the island airports as practicable the aim is to highlight the importance of this national asset (the island airports) but also the importance of General Aviation helping connect Britain’s island communities
• One of the islands to be visited will be Anglesey stopping at one of the MOD bases on the island – not only is the RAF Charitable Trust a sponsor of FSD, but the ‘reach for the skies’ theme of FSD, is taken from the famous WW2 fighter ace Douglas Bader’s autobiography

The aircraft involved are two Piper Aztecs and two Cessna 210s. These are 6 seat aircraft and epitomise the practical contribution made by general aviation in a variety of roles. The Piper Aztec, for example, has been a favourite for small inter-island operations, in addition to all weather charter operations. The Cessna 210 continues to operate in the remotest corners of the world and both the Aztec and 210, as aircraft type, have undertaken record breaking long distance flights. One of the Aztecs to be used in the flight recently flew over the North Pole.

The biographies of the four pilots are here.

The past Scholars who acted as co-pilots on the trip are:

Caroline Begg: 

Carrie contends with the daily hassle of commuting whilst coping with hereditary spastic paraplegia, a condition which was diagnosed when she was just 3 years old.  Her school days were definitely not the best days of her life trying to cope with the teasing and bullying by other youngsters.  Walking with confidence is difficult, when in the back of her mind, Carrie is constant fear of falling.   She joined the BDFA last year to experience the thrill of flying, and in her application Carrie wrote: “simply getting to the office everyday is an ever increasing challenge but the thought of having to stop work in the not too distant future is very frightening.  Life seems to be one big catch 22 situation with no light at the end of the tunnel”

Carrie grew in confidence during her six weeks training in South Africa, and flew to solo standard.   She and her four fellow scholars formed a great bond during their training and impressed their instructors with the way in which they rose to the challenges of learning to fly and supported each other in their endeavours.

Carrie returned to RAF Cranwell as a mentor during this year’s selection process and it was a delight for all the selection board to see how one year on
she was full of self-assurance and obviously enjoying life once again.

Steve Hopwood:

Steve was involved in a road accident 21 years ago when a sleeping driver knocked him off his motorbike.   Sadly this resulted in Steve losing his right arm and leg which obviously has seriously affected his mobility and dexterity in just coping with everyday life.   His cheery outlook just masked the despair and pain he felt inside and he has worked hard to try and turn the negatives he felt into positives.  Steve has come to realise that whilst he can’t change the physical barriers his disabilities have caused him, it’s up to him as to how much he lets them affect his life.

Steve thoroughly enjoyed the selection process at RAF Cranwell but hardly dared to hope he would be awarded a scholarship.   On receiving the call to tell him that he had been successful he wrote “this was the telephone call that was to help in changing my outlook on life, and the ‘greyness’ of my life began to clear.” 

Due to his right arm incapacity Steve learned to fly from the right hand seat, so that his right hand could be clamped to the yoke, enabling him to use his good left arm and hand to operate the throttle and instruments, whilst being able to operate the rudder pedals with his legs. 

Steve says “the 6 weeks went by very quickly, helped by the fact that there was so much to learn and new skills to pick up.  Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go solo due to the limitations of my right arm.  Whilst I was disappointed, I was not downhearted.  I reflected on my wonderful time in South Africa and what I had achieved in my short time there.  I now realise that if there is something that I want to do, then it’s down to me to get there, I may need help along the way, but in my heart I know that it can be achieved.”

Andy Lewis:

Andy writes

I have always wanted to fly as I used to attend the local airfield and clean the aircraft as a kid in return for flights.

At the age of 16 I was accepted into the Parachute Regiment and passed the entrance test at the top of my class gaining medals for running and completing the tasks in the quickest time.
 
Two weeks after joining my unit I was run over by a lorry while on a bike and rushed into Gloucester Hospital, I spent four months being transferred between different units having my leg re-built and lots of skin grafts.

After all this time it failed and I made the decision to have it amputated. Making this decision at the age of 19 was a big deal for me.
 
I thought my life was over and felt really down knowing that I would never do the things I wanted in life until I met a previous scholar who is a paraplegic and flies a microlight. My spirits were slightly lifted knowing that there was something I could do. I applied to FSD and missed out on the first application as I applied too late; on the second attempt I was successful.

After a gruelling selection at Cranwell I spent two months at Goodwood Aerodrome and gained my National Private Pilots Licence with no restrictions.
 
This is where my life changed and I knew that with the right attitude, commitment and self confidence I could achieve anything now.

After I returned home I bought a cheap microlight and learnt to fly on this and gained my NPPL-M (National Private Pilot Licence - Microlight) This was just a conversion.
 
Now you will not keep me on the ground; as soon as the sun shines I am there. Flying has now given me so much confidence and self belief. I love the free feeling of just throttling back at 2000FT and being free. When I am up there nothing else matters its just me and the sky......lonely but safe and peaceful.

Now I share the same feeling as many other pilots, the sense of freedom.
 
I can only thank FSD and its sponsors in giving us this opportunity to be free once again and believe in ourselves. This has changed the lives of many people.
 
Myself and Emma Suddaby go flying together quite often and through FSD I have not only made another family but made some really good friends.


Emma Suddaby:

Although only 34, Emma’s has already spent 11 years of her live living with rheumatoid arthritis.  She has undergone numerous operations for multiple joint replacements and has to live with the knowledge that there will be many more to follow. Emma underwent her flight training at Goodwood School of Flying in West Sussex in 2006 where she achieved her first solo.  However, the wet autumn weather and poor health prevented her from completing the UK NPPL course.  Emma worked hard on her ground school exams during that winter and achieved her Private Pilot’s Licence in 2007.

These are Emma’s own words describing her first solo:

“My first solo flight made every small struggle and painful moment worthwhile.  I cannot adequately describe how it felt, having spent so long feeling powerless in my own body, to take control of that plane, steam up the runway, and take off into the big blue sky, with only my own knowledge, courage and ability to get me there.  This is what I had missed for so long.  I was no longer standing by watching someone else reach their potential.  I had found a way to remember who I was, and at that moment, I thought I was pretty damn cool. My smile was easily as wide as the horizon.”

In her thank-you letter to FSD, Emma says “you’ve exchanged by fear for expectation”.

Emma endeavours to get airborne when weather and her health permit and is always ready to support FSD at every opportunity.