Aviator's Ball prize winner takes flight
Think you know what it means to step outside your comfort zone?
This week, Erica Britton-Johnson and I had the extraordinary privilege of flying with Aerobility.
A remarkable charity that transforms lives by giving members of the disabled community access to the wonder and freedom of flight. Their mission is simple but powerful: when someone takes the controls of an aircraft, it shifts the focus to what they can do.
Creating a sense of capability and confidence that makes everything else in life feel a little more possible.
Under the expert care of Neil Tucker and Nigel Swinnerton, we flew in formation from Blackbushe to Lee-On-Solent in a Bulldog and a Yak 52 and then back again. What began as a personal mission to relive the joy of flying a Bulldog, which I last flew many years ago on East Midlands UAS. (Although this particular aircraft came from Birmingham UAS, much to my dismay!)
It turned into something far more profound: a lesson in teamwork, resilience, and pure inspiration.
I rode in the back of Nigel’s Yak, affectionately nicknamed ‘the flying tractor’ down to the Solent and over to the Isle of Wight, in formation with Erica flying in Neil’s Bulldog. As it was my first Bulldog formation flight since EMUAS days, being back alongside one in RAF livery was nostalgic and exhilarating.
While my formation flying might not rival the Red Arrows, it was respectable, and above all, fun. Like muscle memory, it all came rushing back. But this wasn’t just another flight. This was Aerobility.
Neil, our formation lead, lost the use of his left leg and arm in a motorbike accident years ago. Thanks to Aerobility, he found his way back into the cockpit — and into a new chapter of life. Now he not only flies, but also instructs others with disabilities, helping them discover the same freedom and possibility.
Yes, you read that right.
Neil led the formation flight without the use of his left limbs. So if I thought being strapped into the back of a Soviet tandem trainer or brushing up on rusty formation skills took me out of my comfort zone, It was nothing compared to what Neil, and so many others like him, conquer every single day. It was humbling, inspiring, and unforgettable.
And the best part? Watching Neil fly, you’d never guess he was disabled.
He handled the aircraft with absolute finesse, chatting away with enthusiasm, entirely at home in the sky, a perfect embodiment of Aerobility’s mission. The folks at Solent were incredibly welcoming, even giving us a tour of the tower. After a quick lunch, we flew back to Blackbushe for a well-earned cup of tea and a debrief.
Huge thanks to Neil Tucker, Nigel Swinnerton, Aerobility, and everyone at Solent Airport for your hospitality and generosity.
If you haven’t heard of Aerobility, I urge you to look them up, better yet, stop by or donate. It’s an organisation that truly changes lives.
What a day. What an experience. What a charity. - Christopher Kidd
