SA Airlink joined forces with Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 322 to give forty underprivileged children from Kimberly and Bloemfontein a day they will never forget. The morning started very early for the kids from Kimberly. They boarded a bus headed for Bloemfontein Airport, where they met up with the rest of the group. Airlink made an Embraer ERJ 140 available to transport the group of wide eyed youngsters from Bloemfontein to OR Tambo international which for most of the children was their first flight ever.

This marked just the start of an exciting day filled with flying adventures. As soon as they disembarked at ORT, they boarded another bus headed to the EAA Auditorium at Rand Airport. Following a boerewors roll and a safety briefing, it was time to introduce the visitors to the experience of true rudder and stick flying.

EAA 322 pilots, flying various aircraft, gave the children a ride around the Rand circuit. The unexpected surge in traffic initially surprised the student air traffic controller due to the continuous flow of aircraft. Despite a challenging beginning, ATC and the pilots collaborated effectively to ensure a successful event, allowing all the children, along with their teachers and support staff, to enjoy a flight.

After all the excitement, it was time for the learners to head back to OR Tambo to board their ERJ for the flight back to Bloemfontein and the bus trip back to Kimberly.

A heartfelt thanks goes to Clive King for organizing the entire day, along with the pilots—Gordon Dyne, Frank Persson, Brian Appleton, Sean Russel, Alan Evan-Hanes, Robert Gasmann, Neal Bowden, and Karl Jensen—who generously dedicated their time and aircraft to create an unforgettable experience for all the kids. Appreciation also goes to the "Ground Crew" for ensuring everything ran smoothly and safely. Lastly, to the staff and management of SA Airlink, THANK YOU for sponsoring this wonderful day. Hopefully, some of the young participants will be inspired to pursue a career in aviation and perhaps join your airline in the future, contributing to similar initiatives.

#Airlink #EAA