MALVERN teenager Luke Branfield got a rare chance to take to the air thanks to a Help For Heroes ball organised by one of the town’s defence technology firm 3SDL.

Luke’s father Paul attended the ball in July and won a flight in a Diamond Aviation DA-42 aircraft as one of the raffle prizes.

As Luke, aged 14, has just joined the local air cadets, and was keen to gain flying experience, Mr Branfield agreed to take him along.

On a sunny day, the two travelled to Gloucester Airport at Staverton, near Cheltenham, and enjoyed an overflight of the Malvern Hills and the town.

The trip took them above the eaves of the family home in St Andrew’s Road, and the family were all spotted down of terra firma waving back at the two lucky passengers.

Luke sat in the front seat next to the pilot and even had an opportunity to fly the aircraft himself. Mr Branfield said: “Thanks go to 3SDL for providing us both with a fantastic experience.

“Luke and I couldn’t have picked a better day to enjoy the exhilaration of the flight on the DA-42 and the pilot gave Luke the memorable opportunity of flying the aircraft which was a dream come true for him.

“All-in-all a wonderful day in support of a very worthwhile charity.”