Air Smiles

Friday 1 May was a day I'll never forget. I managed an Air Smiles Day for a lovely 21 year old lady called Magda and her family for aviation charity fly2help and the Hospice in the Weald.

My volunteers and the staff at Headcorn Aerodrome worked really hard in the days leading up to the event and on the day itself generously giving up their time and skills to make the experience a happy memorable one for this young lady who has a life limiting brain tumour.

The Air Smiles Day lived up to its name with smiles, smiles and more smiles from the moment the family arrived to the moment they left. The smiling was contagious too as all of us were grinning most of the day, not least when the 1950s Trumpton style Fire engine came out!

Thanks to the kindness of the lovely people at my home aerodrome, Magda, her brother and dad enjoyed a flight in a Piper PA27 Aztec twin engined aircraft, a parachute packing demo, ride in the 'Duck' 1940s amphibious vehicle and a tour of the vintage aircraft in the hangar including a big yellow Harvard!

Of course no aviation day would be complete without chocolate cake and there was plenty of it along with certificates, birthday card, flowers and goodie bags to take home.

A parting comment from Magda's brother was so touching when he said: "Everyone at the airfield is so friendly and it's like one big happy family you want to be part of!"

I hope the happy memories will live on for the family and all my volunteers and I cannot wait to do it all over again for another family in June.