Polly Vacher

How did you get into aviation?

As a child, I used to jump off chairs, trying to fly – I’ve always been interested in aviation. At 19, I did a glider lesson and loved every second, but couldn’t afford further flight training. Later, when I had a family, I somehow thought flying would be too dangerous. At 45, I did a skydive for charity and was completely hooked. I ended up doing 245 of them! It wasn’t until my husband’s job took us to Australia, in 1993, that we both learned to fly.

How did your flight training go?

I thought it’d be like driving a car in the sky, but obviously it wasn’t. I hadn’t taken into account the third dimension. Also, I found it strange that I had to use my feet to steer the aircraft on the ground. Although I initially had some difficulties with landing the aircraft, I thoroughly enjoyed my flight training. 

“I learned to shoot in case I’d have to land on the ice and I would meet a polar bear”

Australia was a great place to learn. Because there was so much space, you didn’t have to worry about other aircraft. The weather was good, which meant continuity. And I loved the fact they taught us spins, which was very exciting!

Tell us about your first solo?

My first thought after take-off was, ‘Oh, now I have to get down again…’ Canberra had two runways, the bigger 35/17 and the smaller 30/12. I departed from the smaller runway and in the middle of my circuit the controller suddenly said, “We’ve changed runways.” I thought my instructor had no confidence in my landing skills and therefore I had to use the bigger runway… However, it turned out the wind direction had changed. After getting our licences, my husband Peter and I flew around Australia, which gave me my love for long distance flying.

You did three long distance solo flights to raise money for the FSDP – did each flight have its particular challenges?

Yes, with Wings Around the World, the challenge was its longest leg – 15 hours of flying across the Pacific. Voyage to the Ice was the most difficult one as I flew over the North Pole and Antarctica. Flying there is no joke. I’d done lots of survival training to prepare, from camping alone in the Alps to a week in the Lake District with two ex-marine commandos who gave me a hell of a time. I even learned to shoot in case I’d have to land on the ice and would meet a polar bear. Luckily, I never needed this training. The scariest moment was when my engine quit after I’d passed the North Pole. I got it going again, but I spent the rest of the trip thinking, ‘Please don’t fail!’…

The main challenge with Wings Around Britain was that I’d set myself the task of landing at six or seven airfields per day. 

It wasn’t just landing though, at each airfield there was a reception and I’d give a disabled person a ride. That journey was sheer exhaustion. 

Although you had to stop flying, you’re still fundraising, this time with your beloved donkeys?

Losing my sight in my right eye after surgery went wrong was horrendous. I was lying in hospital, feeling very sorry for myself, when a card from the vicar of a church in North Wales arrived. This gave me the idea for the Donkathon. Travelling 200 miles to St Melangell with my two donkeys, Wizard and Muffin, while raising money for multiple sclerosis, which my nephew has been diagnosed with. It was a light bulb moment. From then on, I’ve only looked forward, not backwards. Know that if for some reason you have to stop flying, it’s not the end of the world.

Are there any similarities between planning the Donkathon and a RTW-flight?

Loads! This journey will take a month and requires lots of training. Helped by amazing volunteers, we need to organise places to spend the night and plan the route carefully so it doesn’t include steep hills or busy roads. In its own way, I’d say organising the Donkathon is as challenging as a RTW-flight!

You can support Polly’s fundraising here