Back on the 16th of July I saw this beautiful aircraft on static display at Farnborough airshow, I never imagined that in exactly 2 weeks from then I would be flying in it!
A week or so after Farnborough I noticed that there was an event at Blackbushe airport, not so much a air display, but a fly in and there were several interesting aircraft scheduled to be on static display.
What really got my attention was that there would be pleasure flights throughout the day, in no other than the very plane I was admiring at Farnborough, so obviously I did not need to give it much thought, I was going to Blackbushe Air Day and flying in a Dragon Rapide, which makes it the second de Havilland aircraft I have flown in, the other being the Chipmunks we used to fly back in the early 90's when I was an air cadet.
This was the first Blackbushe Air Day and it was a very successful event, hopefully there will be many more in the years to come, and for £5 a ticket who can complain! It was also for a worthy cause, in support of Aerobillity who are based at Blackbushe. They have specially adapted aircraft which allow people with all disabilities the opportunity to experience flying and being able to take the controls. It was nice to be on the first pleasure flight of the first Blackbushe Air Day!.
Our pilot, Shona, who normally flies Airbus A319/20's for British Airways, (I asked her after what she preferred flying, of course it was the Rapide!) took us up to about 2500ft and headed towards Reading then circled around Stratfield Saye House, the home of the Duke's of Wellington since 1817 before we started to head back, on the downwind leg I could see Farnborough airport.
After a very smooth landing we taxiied back to the stand where we were greeted with a glass (well, a plastic to be precise!) of champagne and allowed to take some photos stood with the plane and I purchased a lovely model of the aircraft, which Shona kindly signed the box for me.
All in all It was a great day and I am looking forward to the next time!
If you are interested to find out the history of G-AHAG, and maybe considering a flight yourself, check out www.scilloniaairways.com, Also if you have a disability, or know someone who does, and have always thought flying a plane would be impossible for you, have a look at http://www.aerobility.com/
