Elderly enjoy once-in-a-life-time experience
Elderly enjoy a high flying morning at Rand Airport, as 104 senior citizens took to the skies, some for the first time.
One can barely describe the feeling that comes when one takes to the sky for a flight in an aeroplane.
One word to describe it is amazing!
And this was the consensus of the 104 senior citizens and 20 caregivers who were treated to a flight as part of the Elderly Flight Event at Rand Airport, last Saturday.
The day was spearheaded by Felix Gosher and a dedicated team that included Ana Luis, Sue Smit, Sarah Saffy, Michelle Prevot, Nicole Olivier, Caylee Oosthuizen, Menno Parsons, Flippie Vermeulen, Ian Stevens and the Harvard Café.
“The organisers of the Children’s Flight Event came together to start a new project to fly the elderly in a similar manner to how the children were flown in September,” said Gosher.
When asked what the aim of the event was and why the team had decided to host it he said, “In the spirit of Ubuntu pilots and sponsors came together to treat underprivileged senior citizens selected to have their first ever flying experience.”
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The elderly, who came from across Gauteng, were selected by the Acorn Foundation, on the criteria that they were older than 60 years old and had either never flown before or were in a life situation where the flight would be a welcome source of upliftment.
They took to the sky in a selection of classic aircrafts including a Dakota McDonnel Douglas DC3, a Beechcraft 18, a Bell 205 Huey helicopter, a North American P-51 Mustang known as “Mustang Sally”, a Tiger Moth, an Alouette II and III, a Robinson R44 and R66, a Cessna 210 and 172, a Cirrus, a Scheiber SF25 motorised glider, a Y018 gyrocopter and three Pitts Specials.
They each enjoyed a six to nine-minute flight on a safe routing around the Johannesburg airspace.
Tholakele Chokwe said her flight was excellent.
“It was an amazing experience and released all my stress leaving me feeling relaxed and happy.”
Rest-a-While Service Centre for the Elderly member Mary Stainsby said the day and flight were absolutely amazing.
“You really cannot describe it to someone who wasn’t here.
“You can definitely sign me up for the next event,” she said.
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Among the day’s many highlights, which not only included the flights, but also thrilling aerobatics displays, a performance by the Jeppe Pipe Band, St Andrew’s Marimba Choir and Roncho Dancers and a chance for the elderly to meet and socialise with the pilots.
Lt Gen Dennis Earp and his wife Beth were also present.
Dennis was the Chief of the Air Force and survived a real-life bail-out of a P51D during the Korean War in the 1950s.
At the Elderly Flight Event he returned to the cockpit of the P-51 for the first time since the war.
“Menno Parsons owns this vintage aeroplane and kindly gave his time to fly the general on this special flight,” said Gosher.
After the flight, Dennis was presented with wings, a symbolic gift to the pilots for their service to the community, by pilot Scully Levin.
The day was a roaring success.
“Special thanks goes to Parsons of Master Power Technologies, Flippie Vermeulen of Springbok Classic, Ian Stevens of Central Flying Academy, Stuart Coetzee of Rand Airport, Ricardo Alfonso of ATNS, Pauline Barnard of Harvard Café and Ana Luis and associates for great sponsorships,” said Gosher.
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