“Now that is flying by the seat of your pants.”
These are the words of Vic Hanger who celebrated his 80th birthday with a flight in a DH82A Tiger Moth, last Saturday.
Vic’s birthday was on August 19, but his birthday flight had to be delayed due to an injured tendon.
The flight was organised through Classique Aviation, located at Rand Airport, by members of the various branches of Run/Walk for Life.
Vic has been a member of the Germiston Run/Walk for Life branch for 11 years, with an impressive 12 000km of walking to his name.
He was overwhelmed by the generous gesture of the club.
“I think they heard me comment a few times during meals at the Harvard Café that I would love to fly in a Tiger Moth,” he said.
“I didn’t expect them to organise a flight.”
He explained that he had been on flights in small aircraft before, but had always admired the open cockpit of the plane built in the early 1930s.
Vic is a long-time resident of Germiston and, although he now stays in Abor Village, in Bedfordview, he still thinks of Germiston as his home town.
“I can remember riding my bicycle to Rand Airport as a boy, to watch the planes,” he remembers fondly.
“To this day I make sure I visit the airport at least once a month.”
Vic was also a member of the Germiston Lion’s Club and was even president at a stage.
As part of the flight Vic had the opportunity to fly the aircraft himself, under the guidance of pilot Riaan Cloetes.
He really enjoyed his flip in the Tiger Moth and no sooner were his feet on the ground than he started thinking of going for another spin.
The celebrations ended with a lunch with his Run/Walk for Life friends.
Other articles on milestone birthdays you may be interested in:
Hilda celebrates her 90th birthday
