Abbotsford Flying Club

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AFC's First Flights for Kids

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Capture a sunset,  Ride with the wind.
Taste freedom only the eagle has known.
For yours is the freedom of knowing you have flown.

News

  • 2010-06-13: The event was another success with over 80 children given their first flights.  Thank you to the volunteers and pilots donating their time and money.  Thank you to the parents/guardians for allowing us to share our love of aviation with your children.  Pictures will be available soon.
  • 2010-06-03: Registrations for the 2010 event are now closed.  Those already registered must attend our Registration Day prior to attending the event.  Else, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to make other special arrangements.
  • 2010-04-11: AFC is planning another First Flights for Kids (ages 7 to 13) event on June 12, 2010!  Please use the link to the  Registration Form below to register.

  • 2009-06-26: The event was a huge success and 106 children were given their first flights. The club hopes to repeat the experience next year. Check back to the club website periodically for more.

    silverdart

The Event - FREE

  • On February 23, 1909, powered flight in Canada became a reality with the flight of the Silver Dart (picture to the right) in Baddeck, Nova Scotia.  A year later on March 25, 1910, powered flight in British Columbia also became a reality much like that the year before in Nova Scotia.  This year, 2010, marks the 100th year anniversary of that momentus flight.

  • In celebration of this important 100th anniversary of flight in BC, the Abbotsford Flying Club will be offering free of charge First Flights for Kids on Saturday June 12, 2010 (the alternate date for the event is June 19 if weather does cooperate with our original date; pre-registration is required).

    100FlightBC

Who can Fly

  • Age - Children ages 7 to 13.

  • Previous Flying Experience - Children who have never flown before in a small light airplane (e.g. Cessna, Piper, etc.) are eligible.  Having flown in a big jet (e.g. WestJet B737) before is ok as we don't consider them small nor light.

What's Included

  • Ground School - The children will receive a short ground school session where they will learn about the basics of flight and safety in an easy and fun way.

    club-planes

  • Aircraft Walkaround - The children will be allowed to walk around a small airplane and see it up close with an opportunity to ask about the parts of an airplane, how it's used and any other questions they might have.

  • Flight - The children (no parents/guardians) will be flown for approximately 15 minutes locally over Abbotsford and surrounding area. The flights will be done by friendly, experienced and fully-licensed flying club pilots in small light aircraft similar to those pictured to the right.

How to Submit an Application

  • Registrations for the 2010 event are now closed.  Please check back here in April/May 2011 for details on our next event.

  • Liability Waiver - please read as appropriate.

  • Please bookmark this page and check back for updates to ensure you have all current information.

More Information

Any additional questions can be directed to our e-mail address below:

  • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Happy landings!

Cheers,

Abbotsford Flying Club

 

Comments  

 
#1 Thank-you — Krissy Bredlow 2010-06-13 17:02
I just wanted to say thank-you for a wonderful day yesterday.
My daughter really enjoyed it seeing it was her first time on an airplane.
It is great that there are people are willing to take there time and give a child a wonderful experiance.
Thanks again.
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#2 RE: AFC's First Flights for Kids — Jane Saba 2010-06-13 17:17
My son had a memorable experience, which he can't stop talking about. He wants to repeat it soon, and also become a pilot. Thanks so much AFC. It was well organised and everyone was helpful. The cadets were wonderful, as well as all the people who involved on that day. We were very pleased.
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#3 junior pilot — Brenden Williams 2010-06-13 18:05
It was awesome I really like Gerry Visser and the ride I recived in his plane I still can,t wipe the smile off my face because it was so awesome thank you so much
Brenden Williams
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#4 RE: AFC's First Flights for Kids — Kim Hiebert 2010-06-13 18:17
We just want to say what an AMAZING time our kids had at First Flights. They learned a lot and LOVED flying over Abbotsford. Their pilot was so informative and fun!
Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!
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#5 Miss — Kylie Holladay 2010-06-13 18:40
It was awesome and soooooo cool!!!!!!!!! The best part was our pilot made up a roller coaster and this is how he did it. He goes really up and then he goes really down. It was sssoooooooooooo ooooooooooo much fun!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!
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#6 Mrs — Wendy Holladay Moore 2010-06-13 18:43
Thank you Abbotsford Flying Club for giving this amazing opportunity to our children. I watched with delight the expressions and excitement of the children as they returned from their flights. The whole day, from the flight school, instruction about the planes to the actual flight was well presented and gave the children a complete day about the wonder of flight. Again, thank you for sharing your passion with the youth!
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#7 Ms. — Eileen Dorst 2010-06-13 19:09
Thank you so much to everyone who stayed longer than expected, to give my son Steven another chance to take part yesterday. He was so disappointed to miss out due to a rescheduled baseball game, but it really made his day that he was able to fly anyway. Having a turn at the controls was a thrill of a lifetime for him! He came to me this morning (with a grin still on his face) to inform me that flying yesterday made him want to become a pilot even more! His 3 younger brothers: David, Tyler, and Daniel, all enjoyed their flights very much as well...they are all still talking about it with much excitement. Thank you again to everyone for making this such a special day for so many!
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#8 Thanks — Laureen Plaxin 2010-06-13 19:22
Hello,

Thank you for the great opportunity we had with our children today! It was fabulous and very much appreciated. Thanks to all you staff and help the day was a great success.

Jarrel and Scott Pizzey's Mom!
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#9 Thank you! — Jalmeena Gill 2010-06-13 19:43
Hi,

I thought it was sooooo cool to ride in an aiplane! I got to drive it for a while and be a co-pilot which was awesome! Really fun! Thank you so much for the amazing opportunity!

~Jalmeena Gill
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#10 Fantastic Day! — Tamsin Lehn 2010-06-13 19:52
My son had such a good time yesterday. It was a great opportunity for him in a fun environment. We really appreciate all the volunteers' efforts and hope you run it again next year - I have a six-year-old waiting with great anticipation!
Special thanks to Jim for being E's pilot!
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#11 RE: AFC's First Flights for Kids — ms.corra 2010-06-13 20:04
hi
i was fantastic experience for both of my kids they really loved and i am glad they got this opportunity of life time to experience so from bottom of my heart i want to say thank u for being so wonderful.
bal
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#12 Thanks — Corinna Landsberger 2010-06-13 20:20
Thank you so much, you got my kids completely hooked on flying. They had the time of their lives. Please pass on the thank you to the pilots Gerry Visser and Jim Spentzas.

Regards
Corinna Landsberger
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#13 RE: AFC's First Flights for Kids — Purabi Ghosh 2010-06-13 20:28
Thank you and team Abbotsford flying club for the delightful experience my child had today. It was a beautiful summer day made memorable by the unique experience he had.

Thank you again.

Warm regards,
Purabi Ghosh
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#14 Thanks — Diella Siemens 2010-06-13 21:45
I just wanted to thank you all for the effort you put in to organize such a great event - and even the weather cooperated! My girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves (even my daughter who was very pensive) and got some great pictures. Thank you to the pilots who gave of their time.

D. Siemens
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#15 FIRST FLIGHT — YOSHITA SINGH 2010-06-14 06:57
Dear Mark and the First Flight Team ,
We wish to thank you and the entire team for this wonderful endeavour which had truly remarkable results .
Just to see that look of wonder and glee in Yoshita's eyes was something . We are sure that the same look was in the eyes of each lucky child who flew that day .
The classroom session was most thoughtful since it gave a beautiful insight to the child , regarding the functioning of the airplane .
I must say that all of you are doing something wonderful in abbotsford , and it shall be a previlege to be able to volunteer for this cause . Please let me know .
regards
Vishey and Piyu
Vancouver
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#16 RE: AFC's First Flights for Kids — Silvia Warraich 2010-06-14 10:33
Hello Mark and the First Flight Team,

I wish to thank you all for this wonderful opportunity that you have provided to the kids. My sons enjoyed the it very much! It was a great experience for them. Thank you so much for all your efforts to put it together!

Roop and Arshdeep's mom.
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#17 What a Perfect Day!!! — Angelina Eng 2010-06-15 14:04
Dear mark and the First Flight Team,

Thank you very much for putting this event on. My 3 children had a wonderful time from the beginning waiting for the Ground School to the actual flight itself. 2 of my children were old enough to fly and they loved it! They can't wait to go again next time and my toddler was very vocal in that he wants to "GROW" up so he can go too.

We had Ground school quiz all the way home to Vancouver. Thanks again!!

Angelina
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#18 Much Appreciated! — Jennifer Nadorozny 2010-06-15 20:56
This event was incredible and I can't say enough how grateful we are for all your generosity. Thank you AFC (including the volunteers) so very much for an amazing morning. My son was so excited for this opportunity; he dreams of being a pilot one day and now is begging me to look into Air Cadets. Who knows, AFC may have helped to shape his future. :)
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#19 Thanks — Jackie Jantzen 2010-06-16 07:40
Thanks so much for a great experience! My son thoroughly enjoyed his flight with Gerry Visser and we are so grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity!!
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#20 RE: AFC's First Flights for Kids — Glen & Rachel 2010-06-16 17:51
Our comment is THANK YOU so much for the absoultely wonderful experience!!

Thanks,
Glen & Rachel & kids
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#21 thank you note — Angelica Fischer 2010-07-11 22:16
Thank you to all the people of AFC and the volunteers for this wonderful opportunity they give to the children that otherwise wouldn't be able to afford. Helping children dreams come through, what a wonderful thing to be part of.
My kids this year had that opportunity and they enjoyed every minute. the class session was absolutely informative, my children had a million questions for their teacher, he was great.
The flying part was outstanding.
My children and I are so very greatful to have this ones in a life time experiance. I will make sure for next year to let as many children as I can to take advantage of this event.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Angelica, Chris and Nikki Fischer
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