The group behind the donation of a rescue plane to Borneo 10 years ago has held a special event to celebrate a decade of saving and improving lives.

In 2008, the AFD Group - as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations - announced the donation of a new Kodiak bush aircraft for use by the Christian charity, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). The Kodiak aircraft visited the Isle of Man in October 2009 on its journey from the manufacturers in the USA to Asia, where it carries both passengers and cargo to help the lives of people in Borneo where overland travel is very difficult.

An open day was held at Andreas airfield - and many of AFD’s staff, as well as members of the Manx community were able to view and some to fly in the aircraft - which was then registered as N97 10M.

To commemorate 10 years of service, AFD held a weekend of celebration from October 18 to 20 at the Mountain View Innovation Centre, just outside Ramsey, joined by senior staff and pilots from MAF UK - along with two flight simulators, a decommissioned MAF plane and additional information.

Alison Dorricott, speaking on behalf of the AFD team, said: ’All our AFD staff team are delighted that their hard work and energy in donating this aircraft has done such amazing service for the people of Borneo.

’It just goes to show how we on a small island in the Irish Sea can make a vital difference for others on islands so far away.’

As part of the weekend around 300 pupils from the island’s high schools took part in the ’MAF Rescue Team Challenge’ in which they organised how to best use their aircraft - then used one of the flight simulators to land it on a runway similar to the type the Kodiak does every day.

Mountain View also hosted a public fun day where families or teams of up to six people (aged eight or over) were able to undertake the same rescue challenge as the students.

Members of the MAF team attended churches around the island to let congregations know more about the work it does in the developing world.