https://aviationweek.com/themes/custom/particle/dist/app-drupal/assets/awn-logo.svg
Skip to main content
  • Market Sector
    • Aerospace
    • Air Transport
    • MRO
    • Defense
    • Space
    • Business Aviation
  • Markets
    • Aerospace
      • Aircraft & Propulsion
      • Connected Aerospace
      • Emerging Technologies
      • Manufacturing & Supply Chain
      • Advanced Air Mobility
      • Sustainability
    • Air Transport
      • Aircraft & Propulsion
      • Interiors & Connectivity
      • Airports & Networks
      • Airlines & Lessors
      • Safety, Ops & Regulation
      • Maintenance & Training
      • Sustainability
    • MRO
      • Aircraft & Propulsion
      • Interiors & Connectivity
      • Emerging Technologies
      • Supply Chain
      • Safety, Ops & Regulation
      • Workforce & Training
      • Sustainability
    • Defense
      • Aircraft & Propulsion
      • Sensors & Electronic Warfare
      • Missile Defense & Weapons
      • Supply Chain
      • Budget, Policy & Operations
      • Sustainability
    • Space
      • Launch Vehicles & Propulsion
      • Commercial Space
      • Space Exploration
      • Satellites
      • Budget, Policy & Regulation
      • Operations & Safety
    • Business Aviation
      • Aircraft & Propulsion
      • Interiors & Connectivity
      • Airports, FBOs & Suppliers
      • Flight Deck
      • Safety, Ops & Regulation
      • Maintenance & Training
      • Sustainability
  • Marketplace
  • Services
    • Services
      • Advertising
      • Marketing Services
      • Fleet, Data & APIs
      • Research & Consulting
      • Network and Route Planning
      • Marketplace
  • Store
    • Market Sector

      • Aerospace
      • Air Transport
      • MRO
      • Defense
      • Space
      • Business Aviation
    • Type View All Products
      • Intelligence Bundles
        • AWIN - Premium
        • AWIN - Aerospace and Defense
        • AWIN - Business Aviation
        • AWIN - Commercial Aviation
      • Market Briefings
        • Advanced Air Mobility Report
        • Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
        • Aviation Daily
        • SpeedNews
        • The Weekly of Business Aviation
      • Directories
        • Air Charter Guide
        • Aviation Week Marketplace
        • Route Exchange
        • The Engine Yearbook
      • Data Services
        • AC-U-KWIK
        • Aircraft Bluebook
        • Airportdata.com
        • Airport Strategy and Marketing (ASM)
        • CAPA – Centre for Aviation
        • Fleet Discovery Civil
        • Fleet Discovery Military
        • Fleet & MRO Forecast
        • MRO Prospector
      • Publications
        • Air Transport World
        • Aviation Week & Space Technology
        • Aviation Week & Space Technology - Inside MRO
        • Business & Commercial Aviation
        • CAPA - Airline Leader
        • Routes magazine
        • ShowNews
      • Resources
        • Downloadable Reports
  • Events
    • Recent webinars
    • Events View All Events
      • MRO
        • MRO Americas
        • MRO Asia
        • MRO Australasia
        • MRO Baltics & Eastern Europe Region
        • MRO Europe
        • MRO Greater China
        • MRO Latin America
        • MRO Middle East
        • MRO Southeast Asia
        • MRO Systems Integration Symposium
        • Military Aviation Logistics and Maintenance Symposium (MALMS)
      • Commercial Aviation/A&D
        • Aero-Engines Americas
        • Aero-Engines Europe
        • Aero-Engines Asia-Pacific
        • Engine Leasing Trading & Finance Europe
        • Engine Leasing, Trading & Finance Americas
      • Air Transport
        • Routes Americas
        • Routes Europe
        • Routes World
        • CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Airlines in Transition
        • CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Americas
        • CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Latin America & Caribbean
        • CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Australia Pacific
        • CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Asia & Sustainability Awards
        • CAPA Airline Leader Summit - World & Awards for Excellence
        • GAD Americas
        • GAD World
      • Aerospace and Defense
        • A&D Mergers and Acquisitions Conference (ADMA)
        • A&D Manufacturing Conference
        • Aerospace Raw Materials & Manufacturers Supply Chain Conference (RMC)
        • A&D Programs
      • Awards
        • Aviation Week 20 Twenties
        • Aviation Week Laureate Awards
        • ATW Airline Awards
        • Program Excellence Awards and Banquet
        • CAPA Asia Aviation Summit & Awards for Excellence
  • About
    • About Aviation Week Network
      • Our Story
      • Content and Data Team
      • Aviation Week & Space Technology 100-Year
    • Contact Us
      • Subscriber Services
      • Advertising, Marketing Services & List Rentals
      • Content Sales
      • Events
      • PR & Communications
      • Content Licensing and Reprints
      • FAQ
  • Log In
  • Register
  • My Account
    • Profile
    • Sign Out
  • AWIN Access
  • My cart
    Back to
  1. Business Aviation

Share

Gallery: Aerobility To Expand World Of Flight To Disabled

Angus Batey Molly McMillin June 06, 2021

Aerobility Obtains Fleet Of Grob 109B Gliders

Aerobility, a UK-based nonprofit that trains the disabled to fly, has acquired the UK Royal Air Force’s fleet of 60 Grob G109B motor gliders, formerly used to train cadets. It plans to operate up to eight of the aircraft to provide flying opportunities for the disabled across the UK and to sell the rest. Proceeds of the sale will be used to modify aircraft for the disabled. Credit: Aerobility

G109B Able Modifications

Aerobility plans to modify the G109B Able light aircraft with controls suitable for the disabled. The aircraft are also being overhauled by the German manufacturer with new engines, propellers and avionics. Credit: Aerobility

The Right Aircraft

The Grob G109B met many of Aerobility’s requirements. It is cost effective to operate, uses unleaded fuel and is a tough aircraft as well, says Mike Miller-Smith, Aerobility CEO. “Disabled people aren’t always the gentlest, because they’ve got to grab onto something to pull in, or sit on the wing to climb in,” Miller-Smith says. “With the gull-wing doors, it’s very easy to use a hoist to place somebody in.” Credit: Aerobility

A Grant-Funded Partnership

Aerobility received a grant from the Department for Transport for the acquisition of the Grob fleet. The additional G109B aircraft will allow the nonprofit to expand its services at other airfields. It currently operates from Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire and Tattenhill in Staffordshire. Credit: Aerobility

Earning A Pilot's License

Arthur Williams, a UK television presenter and former Royal Marine, was paralyzed in a car crash in 2007. In 2009, he trained and entered a wheelchair marathon and won. He had always wanted to be a pilot and in his research, came across Aerobility. Through the organization, Williams signed up for his first trial lesson, then went on to gain his private pilot’s license. Here, Williams is shown with Mike Owen, Aerobility chief flight instructor. Credit: Aerobility
Previous
Next

Aerobility, based in the UK, is a nonprofit that gives the disabled the opportunity to fly an aircraft and to earn a pilot’s license. Recipients gain confidence in the process. They have said, “If I can fly an airplane – what else can I do?” It recently acquired a fleet of Grob 109B aircraft to expand its mission to a broader geographic area.

Angus Batey

Angus Batey has been contributing to various titles within the Aviation Week Network since 2009, reporting on topics ranging from defense and space to business aviation, advanced air mobility and cybersecurity.

Molly McMillin

Molly McMillin, a 30-year aviation journalist, is managing editor of business aviation for the Aviation Week Network and editor-in-chief of The Weekly of Business Aviation, an Aviation Week market intelligence report.

Aviation Week Intelligence Network
Monitor the market and connect your business to the people, programs and proprietary data driving the Business Aviation market - only available with AWIN.

BAV_AWIN_270_thumb

Stay Connected.
Stay Informed
Grow Your Business.

Learn How

Follow us on

Markets

  • Aerospace
  • Air Transport
  • MRO
  • Defense
  • Space
  • Business Aviation

Products

  • AWIN Intelligence Bundles
  • Market Briefings
  • Publications
  • Data Services
  • Directories
  • Resources

Contact Us

  • Subscriber Services
  • Advertising, Marketing Services & List Rentals
  • Content Sales
  • Events
  • PR & Communications
  • Content Licensing and Reprints
  • FAQ

Other Resources

  • Aviation Week Marketplace
  • Knowledge Center
  • Newsletters
  • ShowNews
  • Advertising - Media Kits
  • Japanese 日本語
  • Korean 한국인
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved. Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC.
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use