Falcon 2 diversity project

Bidford club members are committed to practical initiatives to promote diversity in the sailplane and powered aircraft activities.

Lee Balthazor is a Bidford power member and also the Chair of the diversity committee for the Royal Aeronautical Society. He was supported by 2 other members, who sourced and delivered the equipment for the Falcon 2 event at Duxford. The first was Gill Stewart who runs our club’s Junior programme and Christine Bell who is our club’s Chief Tug Pilot.

The Falcon 2 Project, is led by the Royal Aeronautical Society and supported by Boeing, disabled flying charity Aerobility and Middlesex University, It offers a unique blend of innovation and inclusivity within aviation. The programme brings together young people aged 6-19 to design, develop and build a real-life mobile flight simulator which will travel to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) schools and public events around the UK to introduce people from all backgrounds to the wonder of flight.

In the photo gallery are some photos from this year’s event included a special guest from Outer Space, Tim Peake.

Hoist to get people into the simulator cockpit

safely strapped into to experience movement using the control stick

visitor arriving for a simulation flight

Christine Bell (Chief Tug Pilot at BGFC)

Lee Balthazor (Chair of Falcon 2 steering group at RAS)

Gill Stewart (Junior Program Manager BGFC)

Tim Peake with a few words about the Falcon2 project