The British Disabled Flying Association Bulldog Appeal.

History 

The history of disabled aviators goes back almost as far as aviation itself. In 1931 RAF Flying Officer Douglas Bader lost both legs in a flying accident. After learning to walk with artificial legs, he managed to convince the RAF that he could still fly, going on to play a heroic part in the Battle of Britain on 1940, being shot down and imprisoned. After the war he built a flying career with Shell aircraft, and was the President of the Royal International Air Tattoo from 1976 until his death in 1982. In 1983, the Flying Scholarships for the Disabled Scheme was founded and dedicated to Bader's courage and determination in the face of disability. 

In 1992, RAF pilot Tim Ellison was involved in a flying accident when his Harrier jet suffered engine failure. The accident left Tim paraplegic. In 1993 he co-founded the British Disabled Flying Association because his passion for flying made him determined to continue flying despite his disability, and to ensure that others could do the same. In 1994 Tim gained his FAA commercial flying licenses and worked as a forest fire fighting pilot until, in 1997 he became the first paraplegic in the world to gain an FAA Airline Transport Pilot's license. In 2001 he competed in the London to Sydney air race finishing first in class and second overall. Tim’s story has inspired countless disabled pilots, and continues to do so. 

The BDFA Today 

Our Mission 

To promote opportunities in aviation for disabled people by:- 

      Making flying available

      Developing control adaptations and technical aids

      Giving specialist advice to training schools to overcome disability issues

      Forging relationships with governing authorities to meet legislative requirements

      Creating a focal point for all aspects of disabled aviation and assist past RIAT scholars

Never has the future looked so bright and exciting for our organisation, and never before has our profile been as strong. With strong commercial sponsorship behind us in the coming months and growing support we hope to achieve the following: 

      A specially designed and constructed flying and training facility for the disabled

      Access to specially adapted and designed training aircraft

      A range of specialist training programmes run for disabled people

      Further changes in aviation legislation relating to disabled pilots

      Employment potential for disabled people in aviation

      Greater public awareness of the capabilities of disabled people with an interest in aviation 

In 2005 the BDFA looks forward to providing and being involved in some very exciting aviation events. As well as our own, well established calendar of flying days with the old favourites giving great opportunities for our members to enjoy fantastic flying, we welcome new venues into our programme. Whether someone wants to taste the thrill  of aviation for the first time or needs advice on adaptations or private pilot’s license training, from hang-gliders to powered aircraft we can help.  

The BDFA Bulldog Project 

In June 2003 the BDFA received a gift it could never have dreamed of - four Bulldog training aircraft from the Commander of the Royal Jordanian Airforce, Prince Feisal of Jordan. 

The Jordanian royal family's links with the BDFA and Flying Scholarships for the disabled extend back many years, with the late King Hussein sponsoring a number of individual scholarships that have provided amazing opportunities for disabled people to learn to fly or improve their aviation skills. 

In order to make the most of this generous gift and to achieve our long term ambition of setting up a specialist flying facility run by and for disabled people, we have launched the Bulldog Appeal to enable more disabled people than ever before to realise their aviation dreams. 

We need individual and commercial donations of sponsorship to help us make the most of these aircraft in the future. This is a story that continues to attract widespread media attention, and we believe the opportunities to get involved with our increasingly high profile organisation have never been greater.

Contacts –  

The British Disabled Flying Association

Building 174,

Biggin Hill Airport,

Main Rd,

Westerham,

Kent, TN16 3BN.

Tel: 01959 576759

Email: info@bdfa.net

Registered charity no. 1081804 

Chairman

Steve Derwin,

5 Hawthorne Grove,

Yarm,

Stockton on Tees,

TS15 9EZ

01642 898989

steve@bdfa.net