A record-breaking RAF officer and his friend will attempt to fly more than 260 miles over 40 current and former RAF stations on paramotors, to raise money for the Association.

Flight Lieutenant Giles Fowler, the UK’s highest flying paramotor pilot, and Paul Mockford, son of the Chairman of the RAF Halton Association branch, will be taking to the skies for their #RAFA40 challenge, from RAF Goxhill near Hull, in April, as soon weather conditions become ideal for paramotor flight.

Paramotoring is similar to paragliding, but pilots wear a small engine and a propeller on their back, and are able to take off from flat fields instead of having to launch from hills and summits.

Giles and Paul’s two day trip will be split over six legs, starting from the former Bomber Command airfield at RAF Goxhill and finishing at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. The route will take the team through Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Giles, 40, from Lowestoft, said,

“Paul and I met briefly at a flying festival, and we quickly realised we both had a connection with both paramotoring and the Association, which his father Derf has been closely involved with at the RAF Halton branch for years. I wanted to attempt a challenge and raise money for something that’s close to my heart, and the RAF Association is a great charity which does so much to help active and former RAF personnel.”

The pair will be assisted in their attempt by friends and fellow paramotorist enthusiasts Katie Pagett and Andy Greaves, who will offer ground support by carrying fuel, spare parts and supplies for the pilots. Once the attempt is underway the pilots and ground support crew will be trackable live at www.livetrack24.com.

Giles is a serving Officer in the RAF with 25 years flying experience, and holds the record for the highest UK paramotor flight, at 21,746ft. He also flew the longest non-stop flight in the UK, travelling 300 miles coast to coast, from former RAF Brawdy in Pembrokeshire to Beccles Airfield in Suffolk in 2017, through which he raised more than £2,500 for Cancer Research UK.