Grab Some GA Sim Time With The Second Man To Walk On The Moon

An aviation-focused charity in the U.K. has come up with an innovative way to pay for a simulator it will use to help teach disabled student pilots how to fly. Celebrity and other pilots are getting together "fly" the Aerobility simulator, which is based on a Piper PA28, around the world. The "flight" is expected to take about 10 days, and is set to begin October 5th.

Each of those pilots is sponsoring their leg of the journey. According to the Aerobility Global Flight Simulator Challenge website, each has pledged a minimum of £500 (about $780) for the experience. The charity's goal is to raise £100,000 or almost $160,000, for the operation of their simulator for the next five years. As many as 100 pilots are expected to participate.

One of those celebrity pilots who will be flying a portion of the challenge is Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon. And Buzz wants to give someone the opportunity to "fly" in the right seat of the sim with him through an auction on eBay. The successful bidder will have the chance to accompany Buzz when he takes the controls of the sim, scheduled for October 8, at Aerobility's headquarters at Blackbushe Airport, GU17 9LQ UK. It'd be a chance to spend about three hours one-on-one with the famous astronaut.

The bidding as this is written is up to £710, or a little over $1,100. And that does not include getting to England, lodging, or meals. The bidding is open until mid-afternoon Monday local time in the U.K.

FMI: eBay Auction, Global Flight Simulator Challenge