A 93-year-old pensioner fulfilled her wish of piloting a small plane again with a 'thrilling' flight over Scotland.
Betty Buckland, a resident at Care UK’s Lauder Lodge in Edinburgh, took to the skies in a Cessna aircraft at speeds of 150mph. Soaring 2,000 feet above sea level, a beaming Ms Buckland said the experience "brought back so many happy memories".
“It was a wonderful day and we had an amazing view of the Kelpies at Falkirk,” she said. “Being in a small plane again was thrilling and brought back so many happy memories.”
In her younger years, Ms Buckland would spend her summer holidays flying with her cousin, who was a pilot in the US and had his own aircraft. On occasion, he would let her take control of the Piper PA-28 Cherokee plane, with Ms Buckland longing to feel the rush of flying once again.
On Thursday March 23, she travelled to RAF Kirknewton, West Lothian, with pilot Andrew Reid, whose mother-in-law was also a resident at Lauder Lodge. Ms Buckland was pictured with a beaming smile on her face after she flew at high speeds.
The chance to soar through the sky again was part of Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative which fulfils the wishes and dreams of residents who suggest an experience they would like to take part in. Anees Riaz, home manager at Lauder Lodge, said it was “wonderful” to see Ms Buckland beaming as she landed the flight.
Ms Riaz said: “We love to go the extra mile for residents here at Lauder Lodge, and our wishing tree is a fantastic way to understand what’s really important to residents.
“We are thrilled we could help Betty to reminisce and get the chance to soar high in a plane once again. It was a fantastic experience for everyone involved and it was wonderful to see the smile on Betty’s face as she landed after her flight.
“A big thank you to Andy again for helping to make this wish come true. I cannot wait to see what wish we organise next – the sky really is the limit.”
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