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COPA President Kevin Psutka had the privilege of meeting Polly at the CBAA Convention in Calgary, Alta. |
Polly Vacher is flying her Piper Dakota, G-FRGN,
solo around the world from pole to pole in aid of flying scholarships for the
disabled.
Polly’s second world flight started at Birmingham, UK, on May 6. From there she
flew a northern route over the North Pole and arrived in Calgary Wednesday, July
9.
Her flight will take her throughout the U.S. before she heads south through
Mexico, South America, South Pole, Australia, India, Saudi Arabia and homeward
through Europe.
The Flying Scholarships for the Disabled (FSD) is a scheme whereby, through the
mental and physical challenges of learning to fly a light aircraft, disabled
people can rebuild their confidence so enabling them to restore their
self-esteem. This in turn empowers them to explore their potential by extending
their personal mental and physical boundaries. Each scholarship student
completes a six-week residential course of training, which includes ground
school and up to 40 hours of dual and solo flying. This is provided at no cost
to the student and currently flight training takes place at flight schools in
the USA and South Africa
Polly’s first “Wings around the World” raised over $77,000 through the wing
names which when added to other fund raising, talks and donations made a total
of $456,000. You can find out more about Polly’s goal - to fly around the world
from pole to pole and to raise awareness for disabled people - by going to her
web site www.worldwings.org.
For Further Information on FSD Email:
reachforthesky@btinternet.com.
Tel.: 01453 833481 Write: Douglas Bader House, Horcott Hill, Fairford, Glos GL7
4RB.