Chocks away for birthday sur-prize
PLANE nut Andrew Price’s secret dream to fly in a Spitfire is set to come true thanks to his daughter... and the Daily Express.
Asked what he wanted for his upcoming 70th birthday he said he would love to take to the skies in a vintage aircraft.
So daughter Amanda joined 3,500 other readers who entered the Daily Express Spitfire Competition – and this week she found out she had won.
The £2,750 prize is an experi- ence flight in a Battle of Britain fighter and she is giving it to her father.
The accountant at Rolls Royce admits she considered keeping the prize.
Amanda, 41, currently on maternity leave after giving birth to her daughter Amelia four months ago, said: “I would have absolutely loved to experience taking off in a Spitfire, as would my husband Stephen, but we had to give it to my dad.
“He is absolutely over the moon and can’t wait for the day. I’m sure we’ll all go and watch along with my mum, Janet.”
Part-time lorry driver Andrew from Nottingham has been interested in aviation since winning a book on aircraft as a school prize when he was 13.
Four years ago he took to the skies in a Tiger Moth biplane, again to celebrate his birthday. He has always wondered what it would feel like to fly in the iconic Spitfire and said: “It really is a dream come true.
“I’m so grateful to my daughter and the Daily Express. I’m an aviation nut and when she asked what I wanted for my birthday I said ‘A flight in an aircraft’.
“I’ve previously been up in a
Tiger Moth but never thought I’d get to experience a Spitfire. I really can’t wait.”
The two-seater version of the plane Andrew will go aboard to take to the skies will be from one of two based at Biggin Hill in Kent.
Both aircraft saw active service in the Second World War.
A spokesman for the flight operator said: “This is a unique experience to fly from the major Battle of Britain airfield.
“Whichever Andrew flies in, he will be flying with history. This will be the experience of a lifetime.”
The winner of the competition was picked at random by the editor of the Daily Express on Monday.
Entrants were invited to make a voluntary donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund and have raised more than £7,500 to support serving personnel and veterans.
‘I am an aviation nut so I’m thrilled’