Douglas Bader Young Aviators' Day RAF Kinloss. 1st Report

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Here is the first Press Release issued by RAF Kinloss about the Douglas Bader Young Aviators’ Day that was held there on Saturday 8th August.

By all accounts it was a wonderful day and was very much enjoyed and appreciated by all concerned.

We are very grateful to Squadron Leader Carl Melen and all at RAF Kinloss, the participating pilots from the Moray Flying Club and Fulmar Gliding Club, the British Red Cross and everyone else involved for all their hard work and enthusiasm and for the trouble they all went to to make the day such a resounding success.

There will be more reports and photographs to follow (there is now a link to the RAF Website report at the bottom of this article). In the meantime, our thanks to RAF Kinloss for the use of this initial Press Release.

PRESS RELEASE

10 Aug 09

RAF Kinloss hosts first Scottish Bader Young Aviators Day.

Disabled children, their siblings and parents got a taste of life in the air at RAF Kinloss last Saturday (8 Aug) with the Douglas Bader Foundation. They were flown in light aircraft owned by the Moray Flying Club and Fulmar Gliding Club based in Moray with support from 201 Squadron – Guernsey’s Own at Kinloss.

This project is part of an ongoing programme of similar events aimed at providing physically disabled youngsters from 6-18 years of age with the opportunity of experiencing flight in a light aircraft.

Whilst waiting on their flight, children were entertained by the British Red Cross who’d brought along their rescue hovercraft.

Squadron Leader Carl Melen of 201 Sqn who organised the RAF side of the event said: “It was a great day out for all involved including the Squadron personnel and Moray Flying Club but most of all course for the children and their families. We are grateful to all who helped make the day such a success. Next year marks the centenary of Douglas Bader’s birth and we hope to make even more disabled children ‘aviators for the day’.