Flying charity needs a new home – urgently!

THE Upward Bound Trust, the charity gliding club based at Haddenham, is being forced off of its airfield at short notice, by the landowner. The charity  now finds itself looking for a new home in the area so that it can continue to teach young people to fly.

Thomas Heidcamp, whose son Oliver is learning to fly with the Trust, explained the situation to Thame.net. “We were told last week that we need to vacate the airfield on April 5. We had thought that we would be able to stay for another year, so this is a pressing matter for the UBT.”

The Upward Bound Trust, a registered charity, has been teaching young people to fly since 1965 and over the last 53 years, many of its young students have gone on to professional aviation careers or had a lifetime of thrills in aviation sports.

“All of the young people have gained self-confidence from their achievements,” continued Thomas. “We are entirely run by volunteers.  Adult members pay a commercial rate to fly, which funds the heavily subsidised training for our students.

“We knew there might be trouble when the landowner planted rows of three-meter-high trees on our airfield approach last week. At a subsequent meeting, they told us that they have rented out our airstrip to a farmer, who will put the plough to our strip at the end of March.

“The landowner will help us with relocation costs, but because of the short notice, we do not have a new home to go to. We are looking for a suitable field, or existing farm airstrip in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire. We need a (reasonably) flat field of 1000m x 100m. We can pay agricultural rates for the fields and commercial rates for our small hanger.

“Perhaps someone among your readers might be aware of farm airstrips and aviation-friendly farmers. Our small operation would enhance any small airstrip, offering maintenance, grass cutting and skilled volunteers to help with ground operations.

“We are a weekend only operation, winch launch club with 25 active members, so noise and disruption are minimal for the surrounding area,” concluded Thomas.

Do you know someone who owns a suitable piece of land, or an existing farm airstrip that could be extended to suit the Upward Bound Trust? Please contact Thomas Heidkamp on 07960496806 or THOMAS@SIMPLE-KITCHENS.CO.UK if you can help.