A trustee of a community radio station plans to fly an original Spitfire to raise money for the charity.
Norman Ross, a trustee of Quality Radio, will take on the challenge at Biggin Hill Airfield in Kent, which was an RAF base during the Second World War.
A lifelong fan of aircraft and the RAF, Norman sees the Spitfire challenge as a lifelong ambition.
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He said: “When I was very young, born just after WW2, my father took me and my brother on days out to watch the aircraft at Abbotsinch, near Paisley, which was an RAF base that became HMS Sanderling in 1943.
“My brother joined the RAF and we lost him in 1975.
“I was always connected to Spitfires and the amazing sacrifice of the young men in the Battle of Britain.
“So, it has been my life challenge to fly a Spitfire.”
The Spitfire that Norman will fly was built at Castle Bromwich in the Midlands in 1943 as an LF MK IXc.
It entered service with 441 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving with the RAF.
Its first operational sortie was flown on September 25, 1944, from advanced landing ground B70 in Belgium.
Not content with just flying the plane, Norman also hopes to perform a Victory Roll in the Spitfire over the airfield.
Through completing this challenge, he hopes to raise funds for Quality Radio Enterprise, a registered charity, to help them continue their work promoting the health and well-being of the community.
You can support Norman and the Wellbeing Hub by donating online through JustGiving here: justgiving.com/page/norman-ross-1.
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Norman said: “Quality Radio engages with listeners, providing music therapy to those who may live alone, to hospitals, sheltered housing residents, and it also provides a Quality Wellbeing Hub for those who need help and advice.
“When I retired, I took the opportunity to learn to fly, and now I have the opportunity to fly an original Spitfire at Biggin Hill Airfield in Kent, one of the main bases that saw so much action in WW2.
“Part of my challenge is to perform a Victory Roll, and I would hope that the people of Renfrewshire can support me by donating to help others at the Quality Wellbeing Hub for Renfrewshire.”
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