Kota Kinabalu: Layang-Layang Aerospace (Sabah Flying Club) treated 186 children and their parents to a thrilling helicopter and airplane joyride on Friday.
The children, many experiencing their first flight, beamed with excitement as they disembarked from the Bell 206 B3 Helicopter (9M-LLH) and the Cessna 172S (9M-SFC) at Tanjung Aru Terminal II (Old Terminal).
Founder Haji Johan Poong Abdullah explained that the 10-minute flights offered a unique perspective of Kota Kinabalu, providing a bird’s-eye view of the city’s landmarks and fostering a deeper appreciation for their home state.
He highlighted the event’s educational benefits, stating that the aerial perspective stimulates imagination, sparks interest in aviation and geography, and enhances spatial reasoning skills.
Sabah Cross-Border Traders Association (SCBTA) President Razanah Paimin and Secretary Razali witnessed the children’s excitement first-hand.
They praised the initiative as a noble effort, noting that Layang-Layang Aerospace regularly organises such charitable events.
This “Charity Joyride for a Cause” was a unique fundraising initiative, running from 9 am to 12 pm, and extended into the afternoon due to overwhelming demand.
One hundred per cent of the proceeds benefited the Sabah Autism Society, fulfilling the dreams of autistic children who might not otherwise have such opportunities.
The event aimed to provide these children with everyday experiences similar to their peers and offered the community a chance to contribute to a worthy cause while enjoying a memorable experience.
Sabah Autism Society President Jennifer Balanting and members were present to support the event.
“A thousand apologies to those who failed to participate in the joyrides due to tine constraint,” Johan said.
