A pioneer of the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has marked his 101st birthday by taking to the skies again.
Jack Hemmings, who is also a former RAF Squadron Leader, was given the flight as a surprise present.
In 1948, he flew from Croydon to Nairobi and began a ten-month survey which led to MAF being set up. The organisation now operates 120 aircraft in more than 25 countries. For his birthday, Mr Hemmings was taken up in a Robin DR400 plane along with his son-in-law, Chris Watts, a retired British Airways captain.
He was given control of part of the flight which took the duo over parts of Sussex, including Beachy Head. He also saw a 1947 Miles Gemini aircraft – the model in which he undertook his pioneering mission flight.
Ruth Whitaker, CEO of MAF-UK, said: ‘Witnessing Jack take control on board the aircraft today was such an inspiration, and remined me that it is thanks to the skill and passion of dedicated airmen and women like Jack that MAF has grown to become the global, lifesaving organisation it is today.’
