Newquay Cornwall Airport supports intrepid Dawn ‘til Dusk flight

Thursday 13th August, 2009

Newquay Cornwall Airport will be participating in a valiant 1,000 mile endurance flight, visiting 20 airfields around the UK in a single day, to highlight the good work conducted by the Fly2help Foundation.

Steve Bridgewater and Amanda Harrison, both 34, will be setting off from Wellesbourne Mountford aerodrome near Stratford-on-Avon at 05:00 on Friday August 14, in an attempt to win the prestigious Dawn to Dusk international flying competition.

Competitors in the event must choose a theme for their entry and then complete as much flying as possible between dawn and dusk in a 24-hour period. Steve and Amanda have chosen to mark the 100th anniversary of Britain’s first airshow by visiting as many current and former UK airshow venues as they can. Newquay airport has agreed to waive the usual landing fees to assist in Steve and Amanda’s quest.

The intrepid duo were runners up in the competition in 2008, as Steve explains: “Amanda and I were commended last year but we were beaten to first place by an Australian Bishop who flew around his diesis in the Outback! We are hoping 2009 will be our year to win the competition outright.”

Steve (who is an aviation journalist) and Amanda (a commercial pilot) will be using a single-engined Piper PA-28 Warrior aircraft, generously provided by Take Flight Aviation at Wellesbourne Mountford. The epic flight will raise awareness of the Fly2help Foundation. Fly2help is a registered charity, which aims to lift the horizons of people of all ages and backgrounds through the medium of flight. It supports those with life-limiting and chronic illnesses; families who have suffered some form of tragedy and those who are working to recover a sense of self-worth and need a life-boost.

“An exhilarating flight enables someone to reach for the sky and leave their worries on the ground – they can see the world from a new perspective,” explained Fly2help Director Mandy Pantall. “We are delighted with the support from Steve and Amanda and from all the participating airports.”

- Ends -

Editor’s notes:

Cornwall Airport Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cornwall County Council, which assumed operational management of Newquay Cornwall Airport on 1 April 07, gained its CAA licence on 19 December 2008 after completing its transition project to convert the airfield from military to civilian operations.

In 2008, Newquay Cornwall Airport was the fastest growing regional airport in the UK and 12th fastest growing airport in Europe. This summer, the Airport will offer 19 destinations throughout the UK, Ireland and the EU operated by eight airlines:

Air Southwest: Bristol, Cork, Dublin, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, London Gatwick, London City Airport, Manchester, Newcastle, *winter* Grenoble

Skybus: Isles of Scilly, St. Brieuc (Brittany)

Flybe: Edinburgh, London Gatwick, Isle of Man

Ryanair: Alicante, London Stansted

Jet2.com: *new* Belfast International, *new* Leeds/Bradford

Lufthansa: Düsseldorf

Bmibaby: *new* Birmingham, Manchester

Falcon Travel: Zurich (Charter)