CREDIT: Credit: Mission Aviation Fellowship/Cover Images

Former RAF Squadron Leader Jack Hemmings AFC, has taken flight to celebrate his 101st birthday. Hemmings was an early pioneer of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) – the world’s largest humanitarian airline, and marked the occasion on 10 August 2022 at Battle airfield. There he was greeted by a surprise landing from a 1947 Miles Gemini aircraft, which landed at Spilstead Farm Airfield, near Battle, piloted by Stu Blanchard who flew down from his airbase near Hull and arrived soon after 11am. The Miles Gemini is the same wooden model Jack piloted in January 1948 from Croydon to Nairobi, commencing the first British aerial survey to assess humanitarian needs across Central Africa. The 10-month mission birthed MAF – which now operates in more than 25 low-income countries with a fleet of 120 light aircraft. Jack, who flew Stu’s Miles Gemini in March 2022 in memory of his late friend and MAF co-founder Stuart King, was then given a special birthday flight in a Robin DR400 aircraft, alongside his son-in-law, retired BA Captain Chris Watts. Jack and Chris took off from Spilstead Farm Airfield for a short circuit across Beachy Head, Jack taking control of the aircraft during the flight. MAF-UK CEO Ruth Whitaker was also on board to celebrate Jack’s birthday. Soon after landing, Jack said, “There were whispers yesterday about a surprise, but meeting folk from MAF and the BBC to see the Gemini and watch my flight in the Robin DR400 which I used to co-own was thoroughly enjoyable!” Ruth Whitaker, who has known Jack since she began her role as CEO of MAF-UK in 2006 said: “Seeing Jack alongside the Miles Gemini aircraft – the same model he flew to launch MAF in Africa 74 years ago – was a really wonderful moment, and a special way to mark his 101st birthday. “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.” Stu Blanchard, CEO of Tecnica Services LTD who flies as a hobby said: “The Gemini is such a beautiful aeroplane to fly, but its twin engines make it quite underpowered as Jack and Stuart found out in Africa. It was fantastic to be reunited with Jack in the Gemini again on his 101st birthday.” Jack – who performed aerobatics on his 100th birthday on 10 August 2021, is thought to be one of the oldest British pilots still flying and to perform manoeuvres of this kind.”