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If you fancy getting behind the controls of an Airbus A320 or RAAF Hawk jet simulator then get behind Beyond the Orphanage.
The organisation is offering the two prizes as part of a raffle to raise funds to support orphans in Ethiopia.
The money raised helps find supervised foster homes and supports schooling and health care, as well as a drop-in centre in Addis Ababa which the children can visit after school to learn English and have access to computers. Many end up with diplomas or degrees, dramatically improving their prospects of getting a job and avoiding going down the path of homelessness, begging on the streets and prostitution.
The charity was started by Geoff Hucker, a commercial airline pilot currently with Tigerair Australia. He has also worked with Air Niugini, Dragonair and Emirates. To date, Beyond the Orphanage has helped more than 1,000 orphans begin a new life.
It was while Hucker was with the Dubai-based Emirates and flying to Addis Ababa that he was first exposed to the plight of the 4.5 million orphans in Ethiopia, including 800,000 left without families or homes due to AIDS.
The raffle runs from November 1 to December 20 2014, with tickets costing $5 each or five for $20 or 20 for $60.
The first prize winner will be flown to Sydney from their local capital city and have one hour in an Air Force Hawk simulator guided by a senior Air Force officer.
The second prize winner will be flown to Melbourne and have two hours in an Airbus A320 flight simulator at Ansett Aviation Training, with Hucker alongside for the ride.
Tickets can be purchased at www.beyondtheorphanage.org/raffle.
