FunFlight News

FunFlight ‘08 set to soar Australia-wide
By Cat Moran - Australian Aviation
February 29, 2008

FunFlight has announced it will once again take to the skies on 9 November 2008 to bring joy and a day of fun to Australia's seriously ill children.

One such seriously ill child who enjoyed the fun of the inaugural FunFlight Day in June last year, is seven year old Cheyenne Webb.  Diagnosed with Cat eye syndrome, a debilitating chromosomal disorder, Cheyenne has spent much of her young life visiting hospitals.

Made possible only with the generous help of volunteer pilots, FunFlight has delighted many seriously ill children like Cheyenne and their families, and will continue as a national event in 2008.

Cheyenne and many others like her were able to fly, many of them for the first time, for an exciting and fun-filled day.

A bright and bubbly little girl, Cheyenne said she loved being involved in the FunFlight event in Melbourne, and her Mum, Leanne, concurred that it was amazing to be involved in the experience. 

In grade one at the time of 2007's FunFlight, Cheyenne not only met lots of children, but had a chance to enjoy a day with many of the friends she's met through the Starlight Express Room at the Royal Children's Hospital.

Cheyenne's pilot for the day, Phil Keen, was ‘really nice' and ‘smiled a lot' during the flights.

Still overcome by the experience of seeing the world through the eyes of a bird, Cheyenne said her experience would never be forgotten, nor would the kindness of her pilot.

"I could see lots of water and birds and a boat, I had never seen anything from that high before."

Coordinated with the aid of volunteers and working closely with charities such as The Starlight Children's Foundation, CanTeen and AngelFlight, FunFlight offers fluttering young passengers a free day of entertainment and fun. The 2007 event saw 43 light aircraft with 130 children and their family taking off from Moorabbin Airport, affording the seriously ill children and their families a birds-eye view of Port Phillip Bay in Victoria.

The FunFlight ‘07 kids and crew then had a stop-over at Tyabb Airport, where the Peninsula Aero Club supplied lunch, after which they were treated to a display of World War II aeroplanes, followed by parachutists and an aerobatics show by Australia's number one air-show performer, Pip Borman

The event founder, Michèl Verheem, said the success of the project last year spurred the continuation of the event. While last year the event was confined to Melbourne, Mr Verheem says this year it will be much bigger.

This year FunFlight will organise the event in Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin and Townsville, with Mr Verheem hinting to the possibility of the event taking off to New Zealand.

Mr Verheem said that the FunFlight concept came about through the Landmark Education Self Expression and Leadership Program and where all participants create a community event.

"FunFlight typifies community, everyone pitching in and having a great day. It's about bringing everyone together, a celebration of doing something for others; but most of all, it's about the smiles on the face of the children," Mr Verheem said.

"By the end of the inaugural FunFlight, the participants didn't want to go home, the experience truly memorable especially to those usually confined to beds and hospitals," Mr Verheem said.

"Their smiles were only matched by those of the pilots and volunteers who had shared their day while the presence of news crews from Chanel 7 and 9 and seeing themselves back on TV was another highlight for the kids."

The sponsors and supporters for the FunFlight 07 event included the Police Air Wing, Air BP, Redback Marine PAC and RVAC who generously donated time, sponsorship, fuel and aviation.

For the 2008 event, FunFlight is looking for aero clubs to get involved with the local organization and for regional pilots to collect children living in rural areas and soar back to the FunFlight fun.

It is an out of the ordinary experience for any pilot to be involved in a day of fun and excitement for special kids and their families.

The high profile event will not only provide a fun day for the kids, but will raise money for such organisations as the Starlight Foundation, CanTeen and AngelFlight, as well as local charities chosen by the local aero clubs.

Cheyenne said she was "really excited" about this year's FunFlight, because she and her family had such a great day last year.