The Race is On

Another day at the Volvo Ocean Challenge for Airads, once again supporting the start of the next leg of the race to Rotterdam and the Sony Ericsson yacht.

See all the photos here.

Caravan Sales are On

A new banner for Haven Holidays, as Airads works the holiday sites of caravan parks across southern England.

Ocean Challenge

Ericsson Boat Ocean Challenge Portsmouth 2006_09

Airads flies the flag for Sony Ericsson at the finish of the Volvo Ocean challenge at Portsmouth today, supporting the boat and its crew as they arrive home from the South American leg of the race.

BBC News report.

Backup Website for Airads

Airads now has a backup website at http://zentelligence.googlepages.com/

We've been experiencing reliability problems with our existing Web hosting company and have placed a mirror site online to give us a better chance of being found if the main airads website at www.airads.co.uk, 'Falls Over".

Airads at the FA Cup Final

Just back from the FA Cup Final in Cardiff where we have been towing a banner for www.koptalk.com.

I had an unusual view of the match from above. Pictures can be found here for anyone who might be interested in a view of footballers’ heads.

From what I could see, buzzing around above the pitch, most of the first half of the game appeared to be played around the Liverpool goal but I’ll try and get a better look in the TV highlights later tonight. Liverpool won of course 3-3 on penalties or so air traffic control told me on the way home.

You'll Never Fly Alone

I had almost forgotten it was FA Cup Final Day on Saturday until I had a call this afternoon requesting a banner, supporting a Liverpool Football club website, to be flown around the stadium for ninety minutes during the match.

I can try and watch the action on the big screen from the air but I think the rest of you will be able to see rather more than me! None of the cold ‘Fosters’ either I’m afraid.

Operation Crackdown

Airads have been selected by the police to fly a banner in support of  “Operation Crackdown”, the new national anti-drugs initiative, starting with East Anglia on June 9th.

Match of the Day

Yesterday’s circuits of Spur’s White Hart Lane ground made BBC’s Match of the Day on  Sunday, in both the game’s highlights and a separate shot of the banner.

With England manager Sven Goran Eriksson  at the match looking for players to join the World Cup squad, the media can be forgiven for thinking that the banner might have been for him until they could read it properly. I wonder what Sven thought of it all? Who is Steve G perhaps and can he take the injured Wayne Rooney’s place in Germany?

Me To You over White Hart Lane

One man's view of White Hart Lane stadium at 4:15 this afternoon. Whether, “Steve” who was proposed to by his partner, “Manda”, said “Yes”, I don’t know but it must have come as a bit of a surprise to be sitting among thousands of fellow Spurs fans and have a banner float by; a message from your partner asking you to marry her. Definitely a first in my experience!

To Perranporth for the Co-op

To Perranporth in Cornwall to announce the opening of a new Co-op supermarket in the town. Atlantic Surf and stunning views along the Cornish coast makes this a popular seaside holiday destination.

Saints Flyby

St Mary' Stadium 3-170406
Originally uploaded by DrMoores.

A successful flyby over St Mary's Stadium this afternoon. With the banner carrying the fans' message, "Time to Go, Rupert Lowe". Any lower and we would have been in the stadium. Much of the western and southern side of Southampton was covered but the north-east was barred because of incoming airport traffic.

Click on the stadium photo to see the others, which can be downloaded in high resolution if you wish to have copies.

A bit tricky for us to fly, as the stadium is right on the final approach to the airport and so our thanks to air traffic control for making it possible and slotting-in the display between landing flights.

Saints Update

For all interested Saints fans this morning, Southampton Air Traffic Control has kindly given permission for the aircraft carrying the banner to position over the St Mary’s Stadium this afternoon. The weather looks promising with the forecast for a NW wind at around 10mph and broken cloud at 2,000 feet.

We will be leaving for Bembridge Isle of Wight at noon.

From Southend Pier

Another successful proposal of marriage on the end of Southend pier this morning. Our congratulations to Upesh and the happy Jyoti, who said “Yes.”

This was our second attempt at playing Cupid as last Monday was “Snowed-off.”

Pilots Notes for Saints Fans

I can see some activity from the various Saints fan sites rippling across this web page and so here’s some information for you all to counter any of the misinformation I’ve been reading.

• The aircraft will be operating from Bembridge, Isle of Wight as it’s much easier to pick-up from there and it’s out of the way of other operational traffic.

• I will be speaking to the SATCO, the senior ATC controller at Southampton airport in advance to ask permission to enter the control zone and log our aircraft details. We did this last time and ATC were fine about it, Saints fans I assume.

• Flying time from Bembridge to St Mary’s stadium is approximately ten minutes. We will aim to pick up the banner by 14:45 latest and will loiter over Portsmouth before heading for the stadium for 15:05, as long as the weather and the ATC are kind. If there is a large passenger aircraft coming into the airport at that time we may be held.

• From the stadium and with the permission of ATC we will fly the banner across the city before returning to Bembridge for the drop.

If you have any questions please ask and I’ll attempt to answer before Monday!