A 96-YEAR-OLD resident at a Mudeford care home who served in the RAF has finally fulfilled his lifelong dream to fly a plane.

Ex-RAF serviceman, John Hunt, 96, was given the opportunity to fly a plane by Colten Care's Avon Reach care home, Mudeford. 

John was called up to serve in the Royal Air Force when aged 18, in 1946 but was posted on ground duties and never got the chance to fly a plane himself. 

78 years later, his care home took John to Bournemouth Airport to fly a plane provided by Bliss Aviation. 

John said: “I had the most beautiful day, seeing my biggest wish come true. It was such enormous fun and it exceeded my expectations.

“I held onto the controls and didn’t want to put too much pressure on them. It really felt like I was in control of the plane.

“It was amazing to go flying. I will never forget this wonderful experience.”

Instructors agreed to meet John and show him the flying system of a dual-controlled light aircraft, and supervise a short flight with him the cockpit. 

Accompanied by Denise Marks, companionship team leader, and pilot, Gary Ashworth, John was guided on a 30-minute flight across Bournemouth, Sandbanks, and Mudeford Quay and was given air traffic control permission to fly over his care home to wave at staff and residents below.

Gary said: “John is a lovely guy and really enjoyed the occasion. He had a go at the controls and was definitely in control of flying the plane at times.

“It was humbling to take him up. He explained that when he was in the RAF he worked solely on the airframe, so wings, rudders, fuselage and so on, but never engines. So when the engineers did their work and went up in a plane for engine tests he always missed out.

“During and after our flight he had a huge smile on his face. It was lovely to have the permission from air traffic control to orbit over Mudeford and the home.

“It was a job well done and John was genuinely grateful for a fantastic experience all arranged for him.”