{"id":76429,"date":"2024-02-07T19:00:09","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T19:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/02\/07\/102-year-old-british-veteran-flies-spitfire-on-bumpy-charity-ride\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:58:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:58:43","slug":"102-year-old-british-veteran-flies-spitfire-on-bumpy-charity-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/military-history\/2024\/02\/07\/102-year-old-british-veteran-flies-spitfire-on-bumpy-charity-ride\/","title":{"rendered":"102-year-old British veteran flies Spitfire on bumpy charity ride"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A former Royal Air Force pilot has taken to the skies in a Spitfire at 102 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jack Hemmings, an ex-squadron leader with Britain\u2019s air force, is believed to be the oldest pilot to fly the World War II plane. His 20-minute flight, from an airfield in southern England on Monday, was to raise money for a charity he co-founded nearly 80 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3500\" height=\"2280\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP24036841461324.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-108963\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP24036841461324.jpg.jpg 3500w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP24036841461324.jpg.jpg?resize=300,195 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP24036841461324.jpg.jpg?resize=768,500 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP24036841461324.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,667 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP24036841461324.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1001 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP24036841461324.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1334 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3500px) 100vw, 3500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">102-year-old Jack Hemmings flies a Spitfire plane to mark the 80th anniversary of the military charity Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) after taking off at the iconic Heritage Hanger at London Biggin Hill, England, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. Hemmings, who lives at home in Horam, Sussex, took to the skies in Britain&#8217;s best-loved Second World War aircraft to raise money for MAF, the charity he co-founded almost 80 years ago. (Gareth Fuller\/PA via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The veteran \u2014 who had never flown a Spitfire before \u2014 said it was \u201cabsolutely delightful\u201d being back behind the controls, though he said the ride was \u201cvery bumpy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo be honest, it felt a bit rusty. Not surprising I am rusty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hemmings was raising funds for Mission Aviation Fellowship, a humanitarian air service he helped launch after WWII alongside D-Day veteran Stuart King. The organization has since grown into a Christian organization that uses planes to deliver relief, medicine and emergency cargo to countries in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The flight marked 80 years since the D-Day landings and paid tribute to King, who died in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hemmings previously performed aerobatics on his 100th birthday and raised more than 40,000 pounds ($50,000) for the charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Barry Hughes, a pilot who accompanied Hemmings in the aircraft, said the veteran had a \u201cnatural touch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe didn\u2019t need any instruction really. He just took control, flown us around, made some turnings and basic maneuvers,\u201d Hughes said. \u201cI think he really enjoyed every single moment of the flight.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jack Hemmings, an ex-squadron leader with Britain\u2019s air force, is believed to be the oldest pilot to fly the World War II 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