On 2 September 2022, Pacific AirHub joined in the festivities of the Children’s Flight event held at the Orient Airfield in Magaliesburg.

The 7th Annual Children’s Flight event allowed 500 underprivileged children to experience their first ever flight, in the hands of some of the best pilots in the country. Almost 100 rudder and stick pilots gave up their time to contribute to giving the experience to the children.

In its seventh year, Children’s Flight has the strongest aviation support in 2022, with a total of 96 pilots contributing their time and experience to fly the children. Most of the pilots in attendance are some of South Africa’s most regarded pilots and are in the top percentile of South African aviators.

The origins of the event are rooted in making dreams come true. Its concept was born from a music video called ‘Paper Plane’, which depicts a child holding dearly onto their dream to fly. The event has subsequently enabled children to experience the sky and aviation for the first time in their lives.

Traditionally, aviation has been somewhat of an exclusive industry, dominated by the military and the wealthy, not allowing the more underprivileged a chance to experience it. However, the organisers recognised that aviation is also centred around defying odds, and overcoming the laws of nature and working beyond the limitations of the economy. It is for this reason that they decided to create an event that broke the boundaries and opened it up to these deserving children.

“We wanted to bring home aviation to the children, to promote the idea that anyone can be whatever they dream of being. That you can literally ‘take that paper plane’ to your destiny. One day if even one of these kids goes for their dream, then this day may have played a role in that,” was the official statement from the organisers.

Pacific AirHub felt it necessary to become involved in the event and lend their aviation hand in making some dreams come true. They subsequently sponsored helicopter trips for some of the children.

Some of the helicopters that were involved in the day included the Bell Huey, Bell 407, Alouette II and Alouette III, just to name a few.

The fixed-wing aircraft consisted of a multitude of aircraft from a Bat Hawk to a Cessna 208 Caravan. Hot 102.7 Radio Station were also present on the day, broadcasting the day’s proceedings live.

The day ended with an airshow display by Airshow South Africa. It featured the Puma Flying Lions led by the formidable Scully Levin, as well as Menno Parsons in his Tiger Bell UH-1 Huey.

Andre van Zyl in his Magni Gyrocopter made an appearance, and Ivan and Jeandre van der Schaar debuted the Boeing Stearman and RC Extra 300 display. The day closed with the Goodyear Eagles Pitts Specials and Iveco Extra 330s flown by Nigel Hopkins and Jason Beamish.

Pacific AirHub felt privileged to be a part of such a worthy cause and is looking forward to taking part in the 8th annual event to be held in 2023.