Gers fan pilots fellow supporters to Seville
Ayr pilots Ronaldo’s private jet to Europa Cup final
An Ayr teenage pilot and diehard Rangers fan will be helping to fly 56 of his fellow supporters to Seville in a private jet used by Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Jonny Faulkner, 19, will be in the cockpit of the Boeing 737 VIP aircraft leaving Prestwick Airport today (Wednesday) bound for the Europa League final.
The fully qualified commercial pilot and lifelong Gers supporter has landed the dream trip after helping a luxury charter firm fill the £2000-a-seat flight.
Jonny said: “I can’t believe I’m going to do it – this is a dream come true.
“I’ve been a Rangers fan all my life and I go to games with my grandad at Ibrox, so it is incredible to be a part of this.
“My job is flying smaller aircraft around Europe. I won’t be the pilot on this operation but I will be in the jumpseat in the cockpit.
“It is going to be the trip of a lifetime, combining two things I absolutely love
– Rangers and flying.
“The only thing better I can imagine is flying the team back home with the trophy.”
Jonny, who landed a job as a pilot with Prestwick-based Spin Aviation after completing two years of training in
America, added: “The phone was ringing off the hook as soon as we put a notice for the flight on social media. We could fill the plane twice over.
“I don’t have a ticket or anything but I will just go out and watch the game over there and then we are flying back the next day.”
The 56-seat private jet is frequently used to fly top English sides including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal to European fixtures. Ronaldo, Andy Robertson and Mo Salah have all been passengers.
Charter firm Oryx Jet normally operates from the south of England but has joined forces with Spin Aviation to arrange the Rangers flight.
A Spin spokesman said: “Airlines are charging £1500 for an economy ticket so £500 more for a private jet including a meal, drinks and a luxury seat is a great deal.
“Jonny is a fantastic pilot and regularly runs operations across the UK and over to Spain and Switzerland.”
Fans lucky enough to have snapped up tickets will be among an estimated 100,000 expected to travel from Scotland to Seville for the match against Eintracht Frankfurt tonight.
At least another 100,000 German supporters will also descend on the Andalusian city for the fixture that could see Rangers lift its first European trophy in 50 years..