Camberley's Aerobility launches Paralympic Games

A CAMBERLEY firm was behind the spectacular flyover at the Paralympic Games opening ceremony.

Aerobility, a disabled flying charity based at Blackbushe Airport, taught ex-serviceman David Rawlins who performed the dramatic flight over the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night (August 29). 

Lance corporal Rawlins was in the cockpit of the firm's twin-engined Tecnam P2006 light aircraft which soared over an 80,000-strong crowd, kicking off proceedings with a pyrotechnic display.

At 8.30pm the neon-lit plane trailblazed through the night sky with wing-tip pyro-dispensers as Lance Cpl Rawlins, who is recovering from injuries sustained in Afghanistan, broadcast from the cockpit: "If you put your mind to it, you can do it."

Mike Miller Smith, Aerobility chief executive, said the charity was delighted to have played a central role in the historic event.

He said: "We are completely thrilled. It's such an honour to have opened the ceremony with such an amazing spectacle. It was actually the first night-time air display and the first disabled pilot air display using pyrotechnics over a capital city. It really was an incredible night."

Mr Miller Smith added: "David had to do quite a bit of training and practice for the opening ceremony and learn how to fly a twin engined aeroplane as well. He had to do a lot of work."

Lance Cpl Rawlins joined the Army in 2004 as a vehicle mechanic. But four years ago his right leg was shattered in Afghanistan just a week before the end of his seven month tour.

He underwent three years' rehabilitation at Headley Court before Aerobility offered him a trial flight in April 2011.

The ex-serviceman, who gained his pilots' licence earlier this year, said: "Since being involved with Aerobility I have been lucky enough to meet such a nice group of people, everyone always makes you feel welcome and I've been able to have first hand experience on seeing what a difference Aerobility makes to a disabled persons life.

"The future is clear for me now, I have been bitten by the aviation bug and I want to continue to fly and help out with Aerobility. 

"I am about to begin a new job in Aircraft Operations and I could not have done this without Aerobility."