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Completely Loopy!! -
Aerobatic Challenge Results
3 days, 15 flights, 337 manoeuvres and £6000
for charity.
Many of you have followed the build up to Jason Phelan's
Aerobatic Challenge; now having completed his mission, Jason
tells us how it felt to experience so many unusual highs!
"Back in 2008, I had a harebrained idea of planning
an Aerobatic Challenge, of some description, in aid of charity.
I was also introduced to Mandy Pantall who is the Marketing
and Fundraising Director of fly2help,
and after reading her story I was inspired to give a bit back
to the world of aviation that has, over the years, given me
so much personal pleasure and enjoyment. 'The rest...' as
they say '...is history!'
As we started planning for this challenge, I received many
offers and donations from aircraft operators and owners, and
before I knew it the Aerobatic Challenge Weekend had gathered
a phenomenal pace; an idea that had started out as something
small was growing beyond imagination. This was a great confirmation
of why this industry is so great... the camaraderie and sense
of community is incredible. I was overwhelmed by the support
that was coming in and it even got to the point that, with
huge reluctance, I had to turn down 7 flights due to an already
packed, and rather scary, schedule. Mandy became a huge force
in helping me develop the challenge to maximise the potential
for raising funds and awareness of fly2help.
I spent a great deal of time developing a project plan and
we slowly brought onboard extra volunteers to help progress
the challenge.
...... and so came the big weekend. I woke up on Friday 24th
April from a restless night's sleep. However, to my surprise,
my biggest concern was not immediately for the excessive amount
of aerobatic manoeuvres ahead, oh no... to my horror, I had
to face my first ever live radio interview with BBC Radio
Northamptonshire at 9.10am!! I was a bag of nerves and apprehension
had set in. Much to my surprise, once I got into the swing
of it, I soon felt at ease, which, considering the amount
of interviews I ended up doing over the week, was just as
well... and before I knew it, adrenaline of a different sort
was pumping as I prepared and was briefed for the challenge
inaugural flight in fly2help's
own Chipmunk, with pilot Robert Miller (Nitro).
My stomach suddenly seemed to fill with butterflies, or maybe
these would be better described as Pterodactyls(?), but I
found myself still smiling, with a mixture of anticipation
and excitement, but it was now time to get the challenge under
way... no looking back now! As I was strapped into the parachute
and then to the aircraft, my mind wondered off momentarily
at the prospect of what I was about to undertake. Can I do
the whole weekend? Will I be sick? What if I don't like it?
What if I fail and the sponsorship money is lost? WHERE'S
MY SICKBAG?? The 'Chippie' prop kicked into life, and miraculously,
all those questions retreated to the back of my mind... this
was it... CHOCKS AWAY!!
It was only as I landed at Sywell on the Sunday afternoon,
at the end of three gruelling days, fifteen flights, 337 manoeuvres,
and the finale with Myles Garland in The Blades Extra 300
aircraft, that all those questions got answered. Yes, I could
do the whole weekend; No, I wouldn't be sick; Yes, I
absolutely loved it, beyond words; I didn't fail! And
hey, who cares where the sick bag is now?
I could write a book, and a thick one at that, about all
the flights; the experiences, the smells of each aircraft,
the atmosphere, the sights, all as I crossed over 11 counties,
often from the most bizarre angles... but, I still wouldn't
be able to put into words, or really do justice to the emotions
that it created. I never wanted to learn to fly and, to be
honest, I still don't, although I can now understand
why pilots find it all so addictive... it really is hard
to describe why I am still smiling so much now... what
an experience!
It was an absolute privilege to be flown in so many wonderful
aircraft types with so many skilled pilots; now I understand
why the term 'Sky Gods' is used! Every flight was different
and unique; my boundaries had been pushed so very far, as
I experienced G-Forces of +6g and -4g. I Looped, Rolled, Flicked,
Tumbled, Stalled, I was flown through manoeuvres I have never
even heard of and WHY? To raise money and awareness of a cause
that has become close to my heart, fly2help.
I achieved both of those goals, but I have also now been
struck by a personal achievement too... I suffered from exhaustion,
headaches and dizzy spells for up to a week after the event,
and on reflection I exceeded all my own expectations of myself.
I have always found it hard to recognise my own achievements,
but looking through the internet at the words, images, messages
and stories that have come from the weekend, it has made me
feel extremely proud.
I want to thank so many people for their input, which I will
do individually over the course of the next few weeks, but
for now THANK YOU to everyone for making what started out
as a small dream, a much larger and hugely successful reality."
The final grand total raised for fly2help
has not yet been confirmed, but it is estimated that Jason
has raised £6000. Jason will be presenting fly2help
with a cheque at Kemble Air Day, on Sunday 21st June.
"Anyone who has ever experienced high power aerobatics
will appreciate the huge undertaking of this challenge"
says Mandy of fly2help.
"One single flight like this can bring even the most
daring to their knees... but FIFTEEN flights condensed into
three days really is an incredible achievement for one stomach
to face! WELL DONE JASON! Thank you to everyone who has helped
Jason to raise such a grand total that will benefit so many!"
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