A pensioner has finally achieved her lifelong dream of flying in a Spitfire plane – at the age of 91.
Doreen Allen first fell in love with the “beautiful” aircraft as a child during World War Two after witnessing a Spitfire dogfight when she was 6-years-old.
She said she was left fascinated by how it “turned on a sixpence” and vowed to fly in the same plane one day.
And 85 years on, Doreen was able to fulfill her lifetime ambition when she flew from
Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent in the skies where the Battle of Britain was fought.
Doreen, of Kettering, Northants, said, “I fell in love with the plane. It was a beautiful, beautiful plane.
“I stood there and thought I would love to fly in one of them.
“I promised myself that one day, if I had the money and when I’m 90, I’m going to treat myself to a ride in a spitfire. So I did.”
Doreen’s first flight in the iconic RAF warplane was postponed for health reasons, and the second because of the weather.
But on the third try, her dream finally became a reality last month.
Speaking after the flight, Doreen, born in 1933, added: “It was everything I imagined it would be and more.
“To even see a Spitfire makes me emotional, but to fly in one has been a lifelong dream.
“The best bit was the take-off, it’s my favorite thing when I fly.”
Doreen, a resident at ExtraCare’s Sunley Court retirement scheme, drove to Ashford with her children and grandchildren.
But she has no plans to slow down her adventuring and now hopes to go up in a hot-air balloon with her daughter-in-law.
She added, “The day was a woman achieves lifelong dream of flying in a Spitfire – aged 91mazing from start to finish, how can I top that? Just amazing.
“I don’t think I will be able to top this experience, but next, I plan to go up in a hot air balloon with my daughter-in-law.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
