Patrons and Ambassadors
Arthur Williams
Ambassador
Former Royal Marine Arthur was the first 'home grown' Aerobility PPL. Having started ab initio training with us, he gained his licence in 2009, and regularly hired our adapted aircraft, taking his wheelchair with him.
Now he flies his own adapted Piper Cub. Arthur embarked on a career as a TV sports presenter, and won a BAFTA for his coverage of the Paralympic events in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Recently he presented Channel 4's 'Flying to the Ends of the Earth'. If I can fly a plane, what else can I do?...
Read about more about Arthur’s inspiring story in this Pilot magazine article.
Arthur with Mike Owen, who took Arthur on his first flight with Aerobility
Brian Jones
Ambassador
In March 1999 Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard completed the first non-stop flight around the world in a balloon. This achievement, which had eluded many, recorded the longest flight in aviation history both in distance and duration. The 29,000 mile epic lasted twenty days and achieved seven world records. Following their success, they were awarded the Olympic Order, and later that year Brian was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Brian's love of the air started at the age of 16, following his first flight in a glider. It continued throughout his 13 year RAF flying career, and beyond, when he specialized in gliders, airships and balloons as a flight instructor. By the early nineties Brian was a balloon pilot examiner, and the UK's Chief Flying Instructor responsible for the appointment and training of all balloon instructors.
It was this broad experience which led to his being invited to take part in the Breitling Orbiter project.
Today, Brian continues to instruct and examine balloon pilots and flies a hot air replica of the famous Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon in various countries. He is also a joint owner of a Rockwell Commander 112 TCA which is hard to miss in its newly painted Breitling livery.
He is the honorary president of the Swiss Handiflight, a relatively young association affiliated to Aerobility helping to extend the access to flying for the disabled in other countries of the world.
"I am proud to be considered an ambassador for Aerobility, and I look forward to making a significant contribution in the pursuit of its goals", he says.
Brian Jones
Photo courtesy of Breitling.
Buzz Aldrin
Ambassador
Buzz came to join us for the Global Flight Simulator Challenge, flew our sim, and took the opportunity to meet and talk to a number of our pilots, students and volunteers.
He had such a good time that he returned for the Aviators Ball. A seasoned pilot, instantly recognising the lift that Aerobility brings to disabled lives, Buzz is delighted to join us as a patron and life member. We're over the Moon.
