A 77-year-old Dundee pilot who insists he will never grow up is celebrating six decades of flying.
Sixty years ago this week the city’s very own Peter Pan, Sandy Middleton, earned his wings from Perth’s Scottish Flying Club at the tender age of 17.
The young-at-heart pensioner went on to spend 6,000 hours in the air during an eventful career which saw him fly planes for the Royal Air Force and deliver organs for St John’s Ambulance Service.
Sandy’s love for planes even extended to his daughter, who spent time as a chief pilot before having children.
The aero-acrobatic enthusiast is now determined to continue flying into his 61st year.
Speaking ahead of yet another takeoff, Sandy revealed: “I’ve had such a tremendous set of experiences during my life.
“I was just absolutely hooked on flying. I joined Dundee’s Air Training Corps (ATC) in 1952 after being at Morgan Academy.
“I got a flying scholarship from ATC, which cost me £100 at the time and gave me 20 hours of flying.
“National Service was then calling in 1956, but I had already joined up as a pilot in the air force.
“My time in the air force sent me literally half way round the world to places like the Azores, the Americas and Libya.
“After time with the Volunteer Reserve, I did 20 odd years of flying hearts and livers around the country with St John’s Ambulance Service.
“We flew something like 40 missions from Dundee carrying organs.
“I had a fair amount of adventures. It measures about 6,000 hours of flying during my career.
“I’ve had a great time flying and I don’t plan on giving up yet. I don’t want to retire.”
“My motto is that I will never grow up I’m like Peter Pan.”
To toast his 60th year of flying, Sandy revealed that he hopes to be reunited with the plane he first flew as a cadet.
He explained: “I said to Jim Watt from Tayside Aviation that I believed one of the aeroplanes I flew as a cadet was still in the area.
“Jim pulled his phone out his pocket and brought up a picture which showed the plane was still owned and operated in Blair Atholl..
“Jim told me there was someone who owed him a favour, so I’ll now be getting pictured with the plane in a few weeks.
“I would love to be able to fly it again, but we’ll need to wait and see.”