05/08/2008 by Mr Shoe Wingtips.

The day started with me doing a phone interview with BBC radio Berkshire about Smiling Wings at White Waltham with youngsters from Kids Company . Kids Company is an amazing organisation run by a wonderful person called Camila Batmanghelidjh. She set up Kids Company in order to provide practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children and young people.

Here is the slideshow from the day – this link is without music
http://www.aviationwithoutborders.org/smile/whitewaltham/index.html

The majority of the children who they care for have with severe emotional, behavioural and social difficulties, resulting from significant experiences of trauma and neglect. Many of them are ‘lone children’ living in chronic deprivation, with limited or no support from the adults in their family.

With the aid of Aviation Without Borders and the West London Aero Club, the kids took off Read the rest of this entry »

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05/08/2008 by Mr Shoe Wingtips.

On Sunday 3rd August, I went for a local VFR flight to Fenland, flying over Connington, then back to Cranfield. It was a great flight. Being on my own and enjoying the freedom of flight.

Once parked and back at Terry’s club house, I met with Symeon. He is an Aeronautical engineer with the Greek Airforce and has been at Cranfield University studying MSc Aeronautical Engineering. He is one of the student who has dedicated their final project to designing and making a hand control for pilots with lower limb disabilities. Trem is the other student who is working on a system for the PS28, whilst Symeon is working on a system for the C172. Both students are now in the manufacturing stage and both designed are scheduled for testing at the end of August. Here is a short slide show of the design for C172. In this show you can see us with the Union which i use for the C172. Symeon’s idea is an evolution from that design. Later in the week, we will upload a sneak view of what Trem has been developing.

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