Bob Woolford receives the keys to his new motorhome from Andrew Harris, of the Romahome Centre.
A FORMER air traffic controller at Sandown and Bembridge airports has decided to spread his wings — by trading in his plane for a motorhome.
Bob Woolford has traded-in his Piper Cherokee aircraft for a Romahome motor caravan, made in Cowes, thanks to a deal made by Romahome sales staff.
Bob, 57, from Bembridge, almost gave up flying when a runaway plane struck him five years ago, causing serious injuries. He soldiered on after recovering but now his wife, Margaret, has decided she does not want to fly any more.
Bob said: "When you arrive places by aeroplane you are either stuck on the airport or have to find transport. Our new Romahome R25 will give us much more freedom to get where we want to be.
"Margaret and I have also just got a new rescue dog, Charlie Bear, and he will be coming with us for continental tours once we have his pet’s passport."
Bob said that with fuel costing around £2 a litre and his Piper Cherokee getting through 38 litres an hour, it meant his aircraft was becoming too expensive to run.
But his Romahome should go much further for the same money, making it easier to see the world.
He said: "When I spoke to Andrew Harris at the Romahome Centre in Southampton, I said I would do a deal for a new R25 if he would take my plane in part exchange. Within half an hour he was back on the phone having found a buyer, to provide me with the deal I wanted."
Andrew said that during several years in the motor trade, he had never been asked to part exchange a plane before.
He said: "When Bob said what he wanted to trade in, I thought it might be a bit of a challenge."
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk