London Biggin Hill Supports Aerobility's Armchair Airshow 2021

Aerobility, the British disabled flying charity, has joined forces with London Biggin Hill Airport to take the Armchair Airshow to new heights.

The 2021 edition, scheduled for Saturday, 29 May, will use the airport, located just 12 miles from central London, as its backdrop as the Armchair Airshow is live streamed over the internet.

Mike Miller-Smith MBE, CEO at Aerobility, said “Thanks to support from London Biggin Hill Airport, we will be able to deliver more of this support, to more people. The airport understands us and they get what we do. Access to aviation, provides a magical experience, a focus on capabilities and a relief from the restrictions of disability, that can change lives.”

Names familiar to the show such as legendary George ‘Smokey’ Bacon and Mike Ling will be joined by roving reporter, pilot and TV presenter Arthur Williams, along with aviators and display teams from all over the world.

Colin Hitchins, Head of CSR and Sustainability at the airport said “After seeing the Armchair Airshow last year and the great work it makes possible at Aerobilty, we knew we had to be involved. Not only did the 2020 show bring us flights in the Space Shuttle and exclusive display footage from the Red Arrows but it raised significant funds in support of disabled flying. The benchmark is definitely high, but we can’t wait to support Aerobility with achieving even more this year.”

Aerobility is based at Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire, England. It represents the needs of disabled people whatever their aviation needs and aspirations and it offers anyone, with any disability, the opportunity to learn to fly and to participate in aviation-based activities.

It does this to drive focus on capabilities and encourage the individual to ask themselves ‘If I can fly an aeroplane, what else can I do?’. This has the potential to improve the quality of life and life opportunity for disabled people including the wounded, injured and sick members of the British Armed Forces Community.

Neil Tucker, Aerobility flyer, highlights the importance of the work the airshow supports, “There was a chance that I was never going to walk again… Then Aerobility took me from a very, very dark corner that I was in, and when I was well enough, fit enough and frankly safe enough to come to Aerobility, I took a test flight… All of a sudden, I was 18 years old again, the years melted off, the injuries didn’t even exist, the pain doesn’t exist, it’s just magic, just absolute magic…Aerobility has got a wonderful way of changing people’s lives for the better.”

Armchair Airshow 2020

See also: Making a Difference: Aerobility The British Flying Charity for Disabled People (31 Jan 2020)

PODCAST

See also: Para Sailing and the S\V14 Boat - Interview with Maarten Voogd, Yacht Designer (2019) and also Interview with Shona Bowman, Trustee of Aerobility (July 2012).

If you would like to contact Aerobility to learn more about the work they do and support them in some way, please do visit Aerobility's website.

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