Think you know what it means to step outside your comfort zone?

Last week, Erica Britton-Johnson and I had the extraordinary privilege of flying with Aerobility — a remarkable charity that transforms lives by giving members of the disabled community access to the wonder and freedom of flight.

Their mission is simple but powerful: when someone takes the controls of an aircraft, it shifts the focus to what they can do, creating a sense of capability and confidence that makes everything else in life feel a little more possible.

Under the expert care of Neil Tucker and Nigel Swinnerton we flew in a Bulldog and Yak 52 formation from Blackbushe to Lee-On-Solent and back again.

What began as a bid for a charity lot at the Aviator’s Ball in 2022 for me to once again fly a Bulldog (last flown years ago on East Midlands Universities Air Squadron turned into something far more profound: a lesson in teamwork, resilience and pure inspiration (despite, much to my dismay, Neil’s Bulldog being a Birmingham UAS aircraft!).

I flew to Lee-On-Solent in the back of Nigel’s Yak, in formation with Erica flying in Neil’s Bulldog. It was my first Bulldog formation flight since my EMUAS days, and being back alongside one in RAF livery was nostalgic and exhilarating. While my formation flying was rusty, it was respectable and above all, fun. It was a gorgeous day for flying and we made the most of it, taking in the Solent and the Isle of Wight before landing for a quick lunch.

But this wasn’t just any old flight; this was Aerobility

Neil, our formation lead, lost the use of his left leg and arm in a motorbike accident.

Thanks to Aerobility, he found his way back into the cockpit and into a new chapter of life. Now he not only flys, but also instructs others with disabilities, helping them discover the same freedom.

Yes, you read that right, Neil led the formation flight without the use of his left limbs.

So if I thought being strapped into the back of a vintage Soviet tandem trainer with Russian gauges, wearing a parachute and lifejacket and listening to a noisy pneumatic braking system, or flying formation after several years off, took me out of my comfort zone, it was nothing compared to what Neil, and many others like him, conquer every single day.

It was humbling, inspiring, and truly unforgettable.

And the best part?

Watching Neil fly, you’d never guess he was disabled. He handled the aircraft with absolute finesse, chatting away with enthusiasm, entirely at home in the sky, a perfect embodiment of Aerobility’s mission.

Huge thanks to Neil, Nigel, Aerobility, and everyone at Solent Airport Daedalus for their hospitality and generosity and for providing us with such an amazing experience.

If you haven’t heard of Aerobility, I urge you to look them up, better yet, stop by or donate. It’s an organisation that truly changes lives.

What a day.

What an experience.

What a charity.

Comfort zone? What comfort zone …