For the fourth year running, the team today accepted the invitation by City Airport Manchester (Barton) to display at their ever increasingly popular Aviation Family Fun Day and Aircraft Fly In Event.
Meeting at 08.45hrs bleary eyed team members met at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ, after this early mornings tragic call out, to travel in all the teams four Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, our Minibus, our Control Vehicle and our SAR Boat, journeying to City Airport Manchester (Barton) where the airport authorities gave us an excellent prime spot right to the forefront of the outdoor display area.
Unlike last years rainy and blustery interludes, today clear blue skies and temperatures soaring to 28c / 82f greeted us, and more importantly stayed with us all day.
The event as ever attracted large visitor numbers, all enjoying this excellently run family day, with many aircraft arriving having taken advantage of the ’no landing fees’ on offer throughout the day, and the invitation to visit this historic and interesting airport.
For the aviation buffs in the team, (Including our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Vice President Alan James) there was much to see, from the based aircraft to visiting aircraft, from Executive Helicopters, to a huge variety of Microlights, light helicopters, light aircraft, Sports aircraft, biplanes,autogyros and even an aircraft cockpit section. (Highlights being scale replicas of a Spitfire Mk 26 and a Fiesler Storch)
A flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota was memorable, in all the aircraft making three low passes across the airport.
The based NWAA Helimed 72 was on (very) public display, with visitors queuing for the ‘inspection tours’ around the aircraft led by the Pilot and Aircrew Paramedics.
A funfair, numerous aviation themed displays, NWAS First Respondetrs, a large display of Harley Davidson Motorbikes, Classic cars, a veteran open top double decker bus, GMFRS Eccles Fire Appliance, GMP marked and unmarked Traffic Cars and Motorbikes, refreshment stands, Birds of Prey, ourselves and very close up opportunities to view all the based and visiting aircraft on display, made for a great day out for all the visitors present.
In total twenty four of our Call Out list members were present, fielding questions from interested visitors to our display.
One members of our Support Group, Sarah Hindle meanwhile encouraged visitors to make ‘donation purchases’ from all the 2nd hand books we had available.
Team Trainee member Martin Battersby introduced the teams new ‘Aerial Section’ to the public, in the guise of his brother Roy’s Cameron Hot Air Balloon, which was present offering tethered flights for a donation to Bolton MRT.
With thanks to the airport authorities who allow us to fundraise at this fantastic local event, we raised £114.19p in donations from our 2nd hand book sales and very kind public donations.
Meanwhile Roy Batterby’s tethered Hot Air Balloon experience rides raised a further very kind £51.26p for the Bolton MRT.
So in total we raised £165.45p today to help with the running costs of the team.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Roy and Martin Battersby today for allowing balloon flights with donations to Bolton MRT.
We would also like to express our thanks to Mark Knowles, Airfield Duty Manager, City Airport Manchester, and the management of City Airport Manchester, who so gladly invited us to this day.
