Dream takes flight for would-be pilot, 89

SOME 70 years ago her dream of flying had the edge over farming as a future career choice – and a Greenbushes dairy farmer finally saw her other option gain wings yesterday when she took the controls of a light aircraft a few days shy of her 90th birthday.

Frances Beckley, 89, said her early birthday surprise far outweighed any of her gifts over the previous years, describing her 30-minute flight as marvellous, exciting and surreal. Beckley turns 90 on May 8. The dairy farmer said that, as a teenager, she had always envisioned herself either farming or flying as a career. And now, thanks to her friend, neighbour and Progress Flight Academy owner John English, 74, she had done both.

English celebrates his 75th birthday on Sunday.

“I am so grateful for this whole experience,” Beckley said.

“As a matric pupil [in 1945], I had my heart set on becoming a pilot.

“But a shoulder injury at gym stopped me from taking the medical test for aviation school.

“Instead, I followed my other dream of becoming a farmer.

“But now, more than 70 years later, I finally felt the thrill of flying.

“I realise what I missed and am so happy to have had the experience.”

The pair, accompanied by Beckley’s grandson, Peter, took off in a Piper Cherokee Warrior shortly after 9am, leaving the academy’s airstrip in Greenbushes on their trip to Woodridge, Van Stadens River mouth, Maitlands and past Beckley’s farm, then back to the academy.

Emerging from the aircraft, a beaming Beckley embraced English and his daughter, Angela, thanking them for the experience.

“It was absolutely gorgeous,” Beckley said.

“From above, my farm is looking

so green. While we were flying, I took control of the plane and it just felt so right.

“I doubt I will get another opportunity because I am getting a bit old,” she said, laughing.

English said the introductory flight was something which was done quite regularly at the academy – but yesterday’s flight was something special.

“It wasn’t a very complex flight but Frances handled it like a pro,” he said.

“She was quite relaxed throughout the flight.

“My daughter told me about Frances’s dream of flying and we thought we would assist.”

Peter said yesterday’s flight was something neither he nor his grandmother would soon forget.

“You could just see the joy in her face and hear it in her voice,” he said.

“This is something I will certainly never forget and I’m sure she will treasure this experience for the rest of her life.

“We would like to thank the English family for making it possible.”

Following the flight, English invited Beckley and Peter for some tea and chocolate cake to celebrate their upcoming birthdays.