Dream flight at 92

At 92 years of age, Dorothy Wilson did not hold out much hope of fulfilling her dream of flying in a pre-World War Two aircraft, but this week she got her wish.

The Otumoetai resident was given a special treat on her 92nd birthday on Monday, when her friends shouted her for a flight in a 1930s Tiger Moth aircraft.

Tauranga resident Dorothy Wilson takes a flight in a Tiger Moth at Tauranga airport for her 92^nd birthday.

Picturing herself as her all-time hero pioneering English pilot Amy Johnson, Dorothy is thrilled with the experience and says she could not have asked for a better gift.

“I have always been interested in WW2 planes and the woman who flew them; I always wondered how she did it and now I know.

“I tried to take it all in my stride and not get too excited, but it was just wonderful.”

Flying in one of these iconic wartime crafts brings back memories for Dorothy, who worked in an ammunitions factory during WW2.

During the war her husband was a paratrooper in the Sixth Regiment.

“I have had a lot of experience with World War Two – I lived through the whole experience.”

Dorothy used to walk five miles to work from her home in Leicestershire in the mornings to attend a 12 hour shift creating cartridge cases for naval guns.

Born in 1920, 10 years before the Tiger Moth was originally created, Dorothy did not see a plane until she was nine-years-old.

“We lived in a little village and I didn’t even see a plane, let alone fly in one.”

The 1930s Tiger Moth aircraft was originally designed as a primary training craft for WW2 and was used by the RAF until it was replaced by the Chipmunk in 1952.

The Tiger Moth Dorothy flew in this week.

The aircraft she flew in on Monday was a rebuilt 1940 model plane, which first arrived in New Zealand in the post war days when it was used as a crop duster by private pilots.

It was then purchased by Tauranga private pilot John Pheasant in 1972, who was given it as spare parts for the 1938 model – John purchased it for $3200.

“It was actually given as spares for the aircraft I brought.

“I started rebuilding it about eight years ago after I retired, and it has been flying for about five years now.”

Dorothy met John through a mutual friend and was instantly taken by the aircraft he had built.

“We got talking, I have always been interested in the old planes.

“He said he wanted to get the plane cleaned up and ready by Waitangi Day and I said to him, if he did he could have the day off as it was my birthday.

“I didn’t want to get too excited in case it didn’t happen, but it did.”

Despite her age, Dorothy is still going strong and looking forward to getting around in her new pink car, a birthday present from her son.