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Archive: Autumn 2007
Monday October 29th, 2007
More race wins than series champion for Multiflight-sponsored motor racing star Jon
Jon Lancaster, the 18-year-old racing driver from Calverley, Leeds, who Multiflight is sponsoring, is celebrating a magnificent run of race wins in this year’s Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 series and a second place on the Championship podium.
When Jon went into the last round of the championship at Barcelona at the weekend his aim was to maintain his second place: the championship had already been won at Estoril in Portugal, and he certainly did this – and did it in fine style.
He won both races at Barcelona and everyone at Multiflight is delighted for Jon and his team.
“To finish second in the championship in only his first year in the series is a fantastic result for Jon and testimony to his great talent,” said Steve Borrowdale, Multiflight’s Managing Director.
“We recognised that Jon, who converted from karting: where he was number one in the world karting rankings in 2006, was a promising young talent. He has a great future ahead of him after performing so brilliantly in his first season in the global single-seater racing series.”
With two victories and an additional bonus win in a French championship race, Jon beat his three French team mates and the series champion to make it six race victories in a row. He started race one from second on the grid but overtook the leader going into the first corner and maintained his lead to the finish line and starting race two from pole position made it a lights-to-flag victory for Jon.
The Leeds teenager, in his first season of car racing, has stormed the generally more experienced Formula Renault Eurocup field and has his eyes set on moving up to Formula Three next year.
Commenting on his success, Jon said: "This season has been really crazy. I wasn't able to score any points in any of the opening races and now I'm taking one win after another! Finishing runner-up is a superb result for me and the entire team.
"It's fantastic to be winning so consistently and I just wish the season wasn't over already. If there'd been a few races more, I might have won the championship! The work that we put in with the team has really paid off and I know that I can be satisfied to finish in second overall. My best memory of the season still has to be my first win in Donington. It was fantastic to win at home."
Pictures show Jon in action on the track and celebrating.
For more details of the weekend’s racing in Barcelona and overall results go to: Race 2 report Race 1 report or www.jonlancasterracing.com
Friday October 26th, 2007
Multiflight-Sponsored motor racing star Jon Lancaster has sights on final podium place
Jon Lancaster, the 18-year-old racing driver from Calverley, Leeds, who Multiflight is sponsoring, is making his mark in this year’s Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 series and is second in the championship with just one round remaining.
Jon was in great form in Estoril, Portugal, at the weekend and after winning both races is most definitely the man in form at the end of the season. Jon, who converted from karting: where he was number one in the world karting rankings in 2006, had a quiet start to the season but has gained the upper hand in recent races. He scored a second place at Budapest, followed by a win at Donington, and his 100 per cent weekend in Portugal has taken him up to second place in the championship.
Jon now has his sights firmly set on the runners-up position on the final podium following the last round of the championship this weekend in Barcelona: the title is already wrapped up with Brendon Hartley (Epsilon Red Bull) the clear winner, but a second place for Jon would be a fantastic outcome for the youngster in his first year in the series.
After the Portugal round Jon said: "Two pole positions, two race wins, and the fastest lap in both races. I couldn't have dreamed of a better weekend. It's fantastic, as this is only my first season in single-seater racing.”
He added: “I hope I can hold onto my second place in the Eurocup in Barcelona.”
Jon is just three points clear of the third placed driver, so it’s sure to be an exciting climax to the championship this weekend.
Steve Borrowdale, Managing Director of Multiflight, said: “Everyone here at Multiflight is hoping Jon can secure the runners-up spot on the final podium: it would be a tremendous result for him in his first season in the global single-seater racing series which has been a stepping stone into F1 for many drivers including Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa and Scott Speed. We will all be cheering him on.”
A star is born: Pictures show Jon celebrating after his wins in Portugal and racing in his Multiflight branded car.
Multiflight Café Bar hosts launch of new BBC documentary
The newly refurbished Multiflight Café Bar hosted the launch of a new BBC air ambulance documentary fronted by Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond. The BBC series, called Helicopter Heroes, includes footage from 60 lifesaving missions flown by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which is based at Multiflight. It started on Monday September 3rd and a launch event at the Café Bar was held to coincide with the broadcast of the first episode. It was attended by BBC presenters, including Gaynor Barnes and Jon Mitchell; the documentary team; representatives from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance; fundraisers, and other invited guests.
Before the first episode was broadcast a cheque for £5,000 on behalf of Richard Hammond was presented to Martin Eede, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. A letter from the Top Gear presenter said it was a contribution to say thank you to the service for airlifting him to hospital after a 300mph crash at Elvington Airfield, near York, in September 2006.
When he was seen opening the documentary he told viewers: “When you’re critically ill or badly injured, speed can save your life.
“This is the Yorkshire Air Ambulance – and last year it probably saved my life, by airlifting me from a wrecked jet-car to intensive care in just 15 minutes.
“I’m only one of 1,000 grateful patients who are alive today thanks to its crew.”
Fans of the television presenter raised almost £250,000 for the air ambulance through an internet appeal in the wake of the crash.
Mr Eede said it was very exciting that people across the country were being given the opportunity to see the work of the paramedics and also that of many of the people who supported fundraising events for the service and helped to make it happen.
Multiflight was delighted to be able to host the launch and cater for those attending. The Café Bar, complete with its large plasma television screen and viewing area, was the ideal location for the event. The BBC is one of a growing number of organisations using the facility, which can cater for all manner of private functions: including parties, business meetings and conferences.
The documentary is shown in 10 episodes and will be repeated later in the year as a six-part series on prime-time television.
Picture show BBC Producer Ian Cundall presenting a cheque from Richard Hammond to Martin Eede, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Multiflight Café Bar reopens its doors after major refurbishment
The Multiflight Café Bar has been transformed to stunning effect and visitors are quick to express their approval of the contemporary design and tasty menu.
Café Bar Manager Richard Newall is delighted with the reaction of regulars and newcomers.
“Much time and effort has gone into the refurbishment scheme and the Café Bar is now a first class venue: be it for a meal out, a coffee, or a private function such as a party, business meeting or conference. We can cater for most requirements and are excited that the response from the public and the business community has been so positive. This is a great venue, with the airport so close by, and offers something a little bit different.”
The new menu is proving extremely popular. This includes a range of light meals, including favourites such as chicken salad with mango salsa and nicoise salad; a selection of sandwiches and paninis; jacket potatoes, and lots of homemade baking such as carrot cake and chocolate brownies. The Café Bar is licensed and sells a range of beers and wines.
“This is a great venue for anyone wanting quality facilities and food, and the out-of-town location means that there is no traffic or parking hassles,” said Richard.
The Café Bar, which features a pavement café area to the front for alfresco dining on warmer days, is open Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am until 4pm, and other times by arrangement.
If you would like further details or wish to speak to Richard or one of his team please phone: 0113 2387133/07771 571106. You can email Richard at:
Pictures show Richard and team and the new Café Bar.
Multiflight staff don walking shoes
Members of Multiflight staff donned their walking shoes for an outing to Ilkley Moor.
The five-and-a-half mile walk, organised by Andy Coe, was a great success and it is hoped it will be the first of many such events.
Note to all staff: Get your walking boots ready for the next one!
Pictures show the walkers and the magnificent sunset over Ilkley Moor.
New Dauphin bought for Multiflight fleet
A new Dauphin has been bought to join Multiflight’s own fleet of charter helicopters following an upsurge in demand for charter aircraft.
A 365NI, which has nine seats in an eight seat rear cabin and x 1 passenger in the front seat configuration, has been bought from America. It is currently undergoing a complete refurbishment and inspection at the Multiflight facility and is expected to be available for charter later this year.
Busy time for Engineering
Multiflight’s Engineering Department has a number of new projects on the go.
An AS350B sourced by the Asia Pacific Company is currently undergoing work here before it is sent to Australia, and, as a selected maintenance facility for the Canadian Helicopter Company, Multiflight is currently working on 2 x AS365N2 helicopters from Sudan. A rebuild and recertification of these two aircraft is being carried out: they are being converted from the Sudan to Dutch register with various maintenance tasks and modifications to the customer’s requirements also being done.
Pictures show works being carried out in the Engineering Department.
Children enjoy Multiflight tour
A group of youngsters from Woodroyd Children’s Centre in West Bowling, Bradford, enjoyed a tour of the Multiflight facility.
The children with special needs, aged between five and 13, were thrilled at the opportunity to look round the hangars and see the aircraft close up.
Captain Chris Rycroft, one of Multiflight’s home-based operators, was getting his aircraft ready for a flight and the children watched in awe as he explained the checks he was doing.
The group was also shown a Jet 2 737, before visiting the Café Bar for refreshments.
“The children had a fabulous time and I would like to thank everyone at Multiflight who helped during the visit and made it such a special time for the children,” said Multiflight Handling Manager Heather Cawthorne.
Daniel joins RAF after Multiflight training
Former Multiflight flying student Daniel Harrington has begun training to become a fast jet pilot with the RAF.
Our congratulations go to Daniel, who came to Multiflight about six years ago to study for his PPL. As an enthusiastic member of the Air Training Corps he already had some flying experience, but needed to change his flying hands: for those of you who do not know, the Cadets fly with the left hand on the throttle, which is on the left, and the right hand for the control column. He was quick to master this change over and studied and passed all the necessary exams in four weeks – except the air law, which was taken 11 months earlier.
He came within a whisker of passing his PPL with us before going off to university, where he joined the University Air Squadron and completed his PPL.
After graduating from university Daniel came back to see us: his main aim was to take his Grandad flying just before he departed again after being accepted as a pilot into the Royal Air Force. He is now part way through an eight-month officer training programme at RAF Cranwell. His training is expected to last up to four years before he becomes a fast jet pilot.
We’ll keep you all posted on his progress and wish Daniel all the very best.
Airspace Infringement Presentation
You can get some useful tips on how not to infringe Controlled Airspace at a presentation being staged at The Flight Training Centre on Thursday October 11th at 7.30pm.
Controlled Airspace Infringements are becoming a major concern: especially as GA/Light Aircraft occurrences total some 80% this year. Airspace is controlled to protect aircraft, which can include you: we operate in Class D airspace at Leeds/Bradford International Airport.
What actually happens when ATC has an aircraft straying through its airspace? Who is affected, and just what have people done when this situation has arisen?
You can find out the answers to these questions, and get some tips on how to avoid airspace infringement at our special presentation being given by two NATS controllers from Manchester.
Places are limited to 50 so you need to call as soon as possible to book your place. Please phone 0113 2387130. As places are so limited we are asking that only pilots and students attend. The event is due to finish at around 9pm.
It’s party time!
The date has been set for The Flight Training Centre 2007 Christmas Party: it’s Saturday December 8th.
This will be staged in the brand new Multiflight Café Bar and will include a band or disco, food, a charity raffle and lots of new faces.
Make sure you put the date in your diary and keep it free! More details will follow.
Ski trip
The next Multiflight ski trip is planned for March 2008 to the bustling Italian resort of Canazei.
John Bedford at Max Ski is looking after us again for this season’s trip.
The base for this trip will be Hotel Caminetto that stands in its own grounds on the edge of town. Max Ski stayed here last season and has no hesitation recommending the good food and service. The hotel caters for all ages with amenities including a Wellness Centre with an indoor heated swimming pool, fitness centre and sauna. There are a couple of bars to choose from in the hotel and there is regular evening entertainment in the theatre that is attached to the hotel.
The hotel is on the edge of town and, with a free shuttle bus; you can be at the local Belvedere Lift within minutes. Your skiing will then start at a height of over 2,000 metres. There is 510 kms of piste and Canazei is well placed to ski the world famous ‘Sella Ronda’ tour, where you will need to ski over 40 kms in one day.
There are many places for après ski in Canazei, including the well known Husky Bar which is just a few minutes from the Caminetto.
For more details about the trip please see Paul or Dick, or you can visit maxski.net. John Bedford will also be on hand to offer further information at the NATS presentation evening on Thursday October 11th. [Link through to Presentation article]
Record-breaking aviator touches down at Multiflight
Record-breaking aviator Polly Vacher, MBE, touched down at Multiflight on Friday July 27th on the final leg of her ‘Wings Around Britain’ flight to raise awareness of the charity Flying Scholarships for the Disabled.
Multiflight staged a welcome reception for Polly and her passenger Richard Chambers from Holmfirth when they landed at Leeds/Bradford International Airport. Members of the Multiflight team, together with the local squadron of the Air Training Corps (2168 (Yeadon) Squadron), cheered as the duo stepped out of the plane. A special presentation was then given at the Multiflight Café Bar, during which Polly and Richard spoke.
Polly, who holds the record for the smallest aircraft to be flown solo around the world by a woman via Australia and the Pacific, started her flight around UK airfields on May 21st. Her aim was to be the first person to fly to all 206 airfields in Jeppesen’s manual of the British Isles and to promote ‘Flying Scholarships for the Disabled’ and flying for the disabled in general. To help do this Polly flew as many disabled passengers as she could during the flight.
Richard was delighted to be chosen to accompany her into Leeds/Bradford and told the reception audience it had been a real thrill to fly over his home and be part of Polly’s record-breaking flight. He is himself going to start a Flying Scholarship for the Disabled this year and is excited at the prospect of learning to fly.
“It’s a dream of mine,” he said: “I can’t wait to start.”
Steve Borrowdale, Managing Director of Multiflight, said: “We were delighted to be able to support Polly’s ‘Wings Around Britain’ flight. It was a fantastic effort on her part and a great way to promote the charity Flying Scholarships for the Disabled.”
During Polly’s flight schedule around Britain she was escorted by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Blue Eagles and The Red Arrows, among others.
Polly, who learned to fly in 1994 whilst living in Australia, has long taken an interest in the charity Flying Scholarships for the Disabled and, with her team, has raised over £400,000.
Talking about the charity, Polly said: “Learning to fly transforms lives by giving confidence as nothing else can. Scholars go on and succeed in very much more than simply flying.”
Polly was promoting her book “Wings around the World’ during her flight – the proceeds of which go to securing another perpetual scholarship through the charity. In the book she describes her second solo flight around the world in 2004 where she became the first woman to fly solo over the North Pole in a single engine aircraft and the first person to fly solo around the world landing on all seven continents.
Pictures show Polly’s welcome reception at Multiflight.
Multiflight sponsors motor racing star Jon Lancaster
Multiflight has announced a sponsorship agreement with racing driver Jon Lancaster. Multiflight’s branding will appear on Lancaster’s racing car in recognition of the company’s investment in the young driver’s racing career.
Eighteen-year-old Lancaster, who lives in Calverley, outside Leeds, is competing in this year’s Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, the global single-seater racing series which has been a stepping stone into F1 for many drivers including Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa and Scott Speed.
Jon won a race in the only UK round of this European racing formula which took place at Donington on 8th and 9th September. He was on the podium a month earlier with second place at the challenging circuit of Hungaroring in Budapest, used each year by Formula One drivers in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Multiflight branding has been done by David Kemplay, founder of motor sport graphics specialist company BBS Graphix, based in Bingley.
Steve Borrowdale, Managing Director of Multiflight said: “We are thrilled to get involved with Jon Lancaster and support his career. The high octane world of motor racing is a good fit with our business in aviation and we take pride in supporting a rising star who is local to us. We hope to be by his side all the way and will be watching his progress keenly.”
Jon Lancaster said: “I’m really pleased to be able to include Multiflight among my partners. Leeds/Bradford Airport is just down the road so I’m a regular passenger there. I hope Multiflight, and their clients, find the racing world as exciting as I do. This kind of support is what will fuel my journey to the top and I’m grateful that I’m taking the next step with Multiflight on board.”
Proof of Jon Lancaster’s promise as a racing driver is in the fact that at the age of thirteen he was singled out by the same talent-spotter who discovered Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button. Prior to graduating to single seater racing cars, Jon was one of just a dozen professional kart drivers in the world. In 2006 he was number one in the world karting rankings. Drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, Ayrton Senna and Fernando Alonso started out with brilliance in the karting arena, just like Jon.
For all the latest news on Jon visit:
Jon’s website: http://www.jonlancasterracing.com/news
FR Eurocup series website: http://www.renault-sport.com/en/world_series/eurocup_2000/
Multiflight sponsors racing star Jon: Pictures show Jon and his racing car, complete with Multiflight branding.
Multiflight and JCT 600 Bentley showcase demonstrates how to travel in style
Ultimate in luxury travel celebrated at Multiflight and JCT 600 Bentley showcase event
Multiflight and JCT 600 Bentley hosted the ultimate travel experience event on
Friday May 11th and Saturday May 12th.
All the latest models from JCT 600 Bentley, and the latest in jet travel: a Lear 45 jet, courtesy of Bombardier Skyjet International, together with Multiflight’s fleet of charter helicopters, were on show during the two–day event. There were also historic motor cars from Bentley’s past on display.
High profile individuals from throughout the region were among the invited attendees at the event, which will also included displays by well–known West Yorkshire sculptor Simon Moller; Berry’s Jewellers; Coutts, and the Clever Association, which specialises in the design and integration of lifestyle technology: audio visual ‘smart house’ equipment.
Multiflight, which handles all private aviation and business flights at Leeds Bradford International Airport, was delighted to be staging this prestigious event in association with JCT 600 Bentley and Bombardier Skyjet International.
“It was a great event and Multiflight was very pleased to be working with JCT 600 Bentley, Bombardier Skyjet International, and a host of other well known names, to stage it and give people the opportunity to enjoy the ultimate travel experience,” said Steve Borrowdale, Multiflight’s Managing Director.
JCT 600 is the Bentley dealer for Yorkshire, providing luxury cars to customers in all major cities, including Leeds, Sheffield and Hull.
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