Scorching Hot Smiles Day

Glorious sunshine made for a beautiful but scorching hot day for the volunteers and beneficiaries on the fly2help Air Smiles Day yesterday.

The historic Goodwood motor circuit and aerodrome provided the backdrop for our charity day with an array of 'toys' to entertain and delight from classic cars to aerobatic aircraft to vintage aircraft.

We flew 18 beneficiaries across 4 flights in a shiny new Cessna Caravan and some of them had a go at flying themselves under pilot Andrew's instruction. On my flight 9 year old Ellie, who wants to be an engineer, took the controls over Portsmouth. We took a tour over the Isle of Wight then headed back to Sussex.

The visibility was amazing with a deep blue cloudless sky and the crystal blue English Channel shimmering below us. Everyone on board had the biggest smile which was hugely satisfying.

It was heart wrenching to think of the traumatic lives these families left behind for a day as each of them have siblings or children in palliative care with life limiting illnesses, many of whom have precious little time left with their loved ones.

It is knowing how difficult their everyday lives are that motivate each of us to continue volunteering. Sharing our passion for aviation with these families is such a pleasure not to mention all the lovely friends I've made through the charity.

My Blipfoto today is the lovely Helen, national advisor for fly2help and my good friend since 2007 when we met through aerobatic events. Helen does an amazing job rallying all the troops and no matter how tiring or traumatic the day she is always ready with a big smile, hug or like yesterday ice cream!!