An Unexpected Flight

Ron Stephen

I am now 83 years of age, and still with a great interest in aviation in general, My son, who holds a private pilot's licence, took me for a birthday flight from Edinburgh to the Western Isles on my 70th birthday. On our return, we landed at Perth Airport and while there, I spotted a Tiger Moth approaching to land. When serving in the RAF in 1944, I flew in a Tiger Moth and seeing such an aircraft close up as it taxied in, I was quite thrilled. Imagine, to my surprise, that when the pilot climbed out, he crossed over to my son, shook hands and was introduced me. He was seemingly the owner of the Tiger Moth and a friend of my son. Unknown to me and having been arranged in advance, I was receiving a second birthday treat by being taken on a flight in the rear cockpit of 'the Tiger' over Perthshire!

A flying suit and helmet awaited me on board and for the next 30 minutes or so; I was flying once more a beloved Tiger Moth, taking the dual controls and loving every second.

Landing back in Scone, Perth Airport, words were failing me, but this was a very memorable experience, never to be forgotten, and a 70th birthday, bursting with nostalgia.