Stepping in to keep Flying For Freedom in the air
When a last-minute pilot shortage threatened a special flight experience day for military veterans, CoolLED Production Engineering Manager Mike Foreman was happy to step in.
CoolLED’s Production Engineering Manager, Mike Foreman, spent his Saturday rather differently from usual, stepping into the breach at nearby Popham Airfield to help make sure a special day for military veterans could go ahead as planned.
Flying For Freedom had organised a Flight Experience Day with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, bringing veterans and their families to Popham for the chance to experience microlight flying. But when one of the two scheduled pilots had to pull out at the last minute, organiser Graham Hennigan and the remaining pilot suddenly found themselves very short of flying capacity.
A call went out to the local flexwing community asking whether anyone could help. Mike, who is CoolLED’s resident pilot as well as our Production Engineering Manager, volunteered alongside another local pilot and helped get the day back on track.
Mike completed five flights with veterans during the day, including taking Gurkha veteran and Everest climber Hari Budha Magar MBE into the air.
Keeping the day on track
Mike Foreman helping to keep the day’s flying programme on track at Popham Airfield.
In total, 16 veterans and family members made the trip to Popham. Guests included Richard Walker OBE, CEO of the Not Forgotten Association, Colin Mills, Chairman of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, Warren Learmouth of the Parachute Regiment Association, Bob Silk from Barclays and two Chelsea Pensioners.
The day wasn’t without another challenge. One of Flying For Freedom’s aircraft developed an issue and had to be grounded for the remainder of the event. Once again, the local aviation community stepped in, with another pilot offering the use of his own aircraft at short notice.
Between Flying For Freedom’s aircraft and Airbourne Aviation’s fixed-wing operation, everyone who wanted to fly was able to do so. Around 19 flights were completed in Flying For Freedom aircraft alone.
For Mike, the day was also a reminder of what makes the microlight and wider aviation community so special. When something goes wrong, people step forward, share resources and help each other out.
