Marry Me Laura?

Another day and another spring romantic “pops” the question.

I didn’t think that today would be possible with a proposal to fly just outside Aldermaston. The weather conditions were very challenging with heavy cloudbursts and 40mph winds. However, the young man in question was desperate for us to try, having set-up a surprise party and bought the engagement ring and so with the wind howling along the runway at Basing Farm, Cupid or fortune were on his side, with the banner up at the first attempt; more luck than judgement.

Having done the quick flight and wrestled the aircraft back on to the ground in the rain, a coffee and two Vallium was followed by an excited call from the client. “She said ‘Yes’, he said, “As it was the only way she was going to get back inside out of the rain!”

If I had realised the boat race was on on the way home, I would have stopped off for a look. To give you an idea of the wind-speed out there, Farnborough to Herne Bay in forty minutes on the way home!

Sorry Saints

Our apologies to tens of thousands of Southampton fans this afternoon. We had three attempts to pick-up your banner, "Time to go, Rupert Lowe" this afternoon at Bembridge but the rising gale-force wind and turbulence from the surrounding hills, simply made the exercise impossible and increasingly dangerous.

With luck, we'll be trying again in two weeks the Millwall Game on April 17th but we understand your disappointment and that of the media, BBC, Sky and others.

Some good news, for someone at least. A young lady, Corinna of Bexhill, was proposed to with a banner this morning and she said "Yes". A good result on a day with a very disappointing ending.

Say "Marry Me" in Turkish

One more successful marriage proposal this week with two more ahead to do over the coming weekend. We have never tried writing "Will you marry me" in Turkish before and it almost ran us out of the letter "M", which appears to be very common in the Turkish language.

And again the banner method of asking for a lady's hand in marriage worked without a hitch. Even in Turkish!

Gap in the Weather

We finally managed to struggle into the air today to display the Co-Op “Fair Trade” banner from Rochester, all the way to Herne Bay and Canterbury.

The weather in the last week had made it impossible to get off the ground but some unexpected sunlight and high pressure gave us a perfect day for the display which rolled around the town centres and the University of Kent at Canterbury.

Fly Girl

Having finally managed to put the video online, it's a huge upload, Airads junior co-pilot, Charlotte Moores shows BBC South East Tonight that flying isn't simply for the birds. 7/10 for the landing but then she can't really see over the instrument panel too well!

Children COMUNIK 8

Supported by an Airads display banner, an art exhibition with contributions from children at 30 schools across Kent has opened at a gallery in Folkestone.

It is the culmination of a year-long project in which children were asked to work on the theme of communication.

Subjects represented at the Metropole Galleries range from the carrier pigeons from the two World Wars to modern mobile phones.

The comunik8 exhibition, which opened on Saturday, was launched with an aeroplane fly-past off Folkestone.

Hundreds of children watched the flypast on Friday off the cliffs in the town.

The exhibition organisers said they were delighted by how much artwork was submitted.

"The work was made at the schools over an eight-week period so we didn't know what we were going to get or how much we were going to get, but it was incredible," said the gallery's education co-ordinator Alice Walton.

Fair Trade for All

Airads prepares a special message for "Fair Trade" over Canterbury and Herne Bay, sponsored by the CO-OP.

A series of events are being held to mark the award of Fairtrade town status to Guildford, Sevenoaks and Canterbury, which was the UK's 150th Fairtrade Town, held a celebration in the cathedral on Saturday.

Also in Kent, children in Sevenoaks contributed poems to a celebration held at the council offices.
Towns or cities are granted Fairtrade status after meeting five criteria set out by the Fairtrade Foundation.

Red Letter Valentine Card

Don't forget, if you want to send that special message for Valentine's Day next month, then you had better put your order in with Airads quickly - 07836 351001








A ballpark figure for a local tow from Airads is about £200 - £275+VAT depending on where you need the banner but be quick, it's a busy day for the aerial banner pilots.

Save the Sea Tower

Airads helps the residents of Westgate on Sea protest over plans to demolish the historic Sea Tower building on the seafront.

Banner Pickup

How it looks from the aircraft!

Spelling it Out for EUjet

"Your'e not going up in this?", said another pilot this afternoon, as the rain lashed down on the aircraft next to us. "Got to", came the answer, "Bit like the Pony Express, EUjet want their banner over the War & Peace Show at exactly 16:30 and Airads have to be there."



At least we had the skies to ourselves on the way down to position for the banner and broke out of the rain and dense swirling clouds in time to find the grass runway exactly where it should be.

Fortunately, the skies were beginning to clear from the west as the forecast had predicted. EUjet had its banner on time.

Cryptic Clue

A message up at Tatenhill today. Lucky George gets some special treatment from partner Deb, with a little help from Airads on the way.

Take Me Higher

Love above the Malvern Hills with a special message to Lauren on Saturday.

Congratulations Anna & Russell

Another message for a happy couple near Panshanger on Saturday.