10/08/2008 by Mr Shoe Wingtips.

Aviation Without Borders (AWB) hosted its fourth ‘Introduction to Aviation Day’ of the year on Tuesday 6th August at White Waltham Aerodrome, situated just off the M4 about 15 miles west of Heathrow. The day is named, for obvious reasons, Smiling Wings day, and was supported by EADS and the West London Aero Club.

Smiling Wings days introduce disadvantaged or disabled youngsters to general aviation. Our guests on the 5th were children from Kids Company, a charity which provides practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children and young people. Read the rest of this entry »

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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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11/06/2008 by Mr Shoe Wingtips.

Various versions of the Smiling Wings slideshow and movie depending on what operating system you use can be viewed by clicking on the below links.

- Click on the image to play Smiling Wings Movie

- Picture Slideshow

Quick time movie version with music
Flash 8 versions with music
Html slideshow without music

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11/06/2008 by Mr Shoe Wingtips.

Aviation Without Borders (AWB) hosted its third ‘Introduction to Aviation Day’ of the year at Cranfield Aerodrome, situated between Bedford and Milton Keynes, on Friday 6th June. The day is named, for obvious reasons, Smiling Wings day, and was supported by EADS, Cranfield Flight Training and TA Flight Training.

Smiling Wings days introduce disadvantaged or disabled youngsters to general aviation. Our guests on the 6th were children from the Disability Resource Centre accompanied by siblings, parents, grandparents, carers and ‘cheer leading’ school friends. Also joining in the fun from the Disability Resource Centre were the Chairperson, Mick Dillon and the Information Manager, Liz Morgan.

The day at Cranfield began at 1030 when Goaty Lewis welcomed the group to the airfield. Goaty, himself a disabled pilot with a PPL, is AWB’s volunteer for Smiling Wings and Read the rest of this entry »

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07/06/2008 by Mr Shoe Wingtips.

All the Smiling Wings pilots and parents had a very special day out on Friday at Cranfield. This quicktime movie version may take a while to load depending on your internet speed, but it will load. Here are 2 other versions if you cant view…

Flash 8 versions with music
Html slideshow without music

I am really overwhelmed at the effort people made to make the day so very special for the children. I wish to thank the following people, David Wilkins, Lisa Borges & Gerry at Cranfield Airport management team and press office, Mike Willoughby, David Coulson, Donald Putnam and Terry Akeroyd who provided the aeroplanes and the instruction. To Sebastian Pooley for the wonderful goody bags that each child received and finally to the helpers and the film crew Read the rest of this entry »

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04/06/2008 by Mr Shoe Wingtips.

Nothing is difficult just different - Smiling Wings at Cranfield, EGTC

(London - UK: Wednesday, June 4, 2008) On Friday 6th June 2008, Aviation Without Borders (AWB) and Cranfield Flight Training will be hosting an ‘Introduction to Aviation’ day beginning at 10:30 from Cranfield Airport in Bedfordshire. The day is named, for obvious reasons, Smiling Wings day and, with the support of EADS, will be Aviation Without Borders’ first at Cranfield Airport.

10 local children with disabilities from Bedfordshire and Luton will have the chance of a lifetime to experience the freedom of flight, Read the rest of this entry »

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20/05/2008 by Mr Shoe Wingtips.

On behalf of all the trustees at Aviation Without Borders I would like to say a very special thank you to all who helped on our ‘Introduction to Aviation Day’ at Fairoaks.

Aviation Without Borders (AWB) hosted its second ‘Introduction to Aviation Day’ of the year at Fairoaks Aerodrome, near London, on Saturday 17th May. The day is named, for obvious reasons, Smiling Wings day, and was supported by EADS and Synergy Aviation of Fairoaks.

Read the rest of this entry »

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