WWII veteran is still working as an official aircraft inspector despite turning 102 and ‘doesn’t think about stopping for a minute’
- Ernie Horsfall signed off thousands of planes and owned 56 planes in 58 years
- He said: ‘I have worked all my life… I didn’t think about stopping for a minute’
- Mr Horsfall received a letter from Boris Johnson on his 102nd birthday this week
A Second World War veteran who received a letter from Boris Johnson when he turned 102 this week is continuing to work as an official aircraft inspector.
Ernie Horsfall has signed off thousands of planes, spent more than 3,000 hours – or four months – in the skies, and owned 56 different planes in 58 years.
Raised in Bradford, West Yorkshire, as a young man he trained as an engineer and was called up to Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers when the war broke out.
Although he cannot get insured to take the controls anymore, eagle-eyed OAP Mr Horsfall still works as an inspector for the Light Aircraft Association.
Mr Horsfall, of Preston, offers advice to aviators and acts as the last line of defence before planes are signed off. His paperwork is reviewed by the LAA.
The widower, who has no family, added: ‘I have worked hard all my life and continue to do so now, I didn’t think about stopping for a minute.
Ernie Horsfall (pictured, celebrating his 102nd birthday) has signed off thousands of planes, spent more than 3,000 hours in the skies, and owned 56 different planes in 58 years
‘I’ve worked with planes for so many years now that I generally know what I’m looking at. I’m not too bothered about going up in the air anymore, I’ve done it so many times that it’s just like getting in a car is for someone else.
‘Nowadays I just inspect the planes, which I like to do.
‘It’s quite easy work for me really, having worked with planes for so many years. I can usually tell from 20 yards away what I’m going to find.
‘I’m more than happy to help people out and give them advice when they need it.’
Plans to celebrate his 102nd birthday yesterday went awry because of the lockdown. However, a friend organised for the Prime Minister to write him.
As a young man, he trained as an engineer and was called up to Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers when the war broke out (pictured, given a send-off to London, 2019)
Mr Johnson, who is recovering from coronavirus, described turning 102 as a ‘marvellous occasion’, sending Mr Horsfall his ‘very best wishes’.
The Second World War veteran commented: ‘It was a great surprise to receive a letter from the Prime Minister. I think he is a great leader and I wish him all the best’.
Mr Horsfall was born on on April 21, 1918 – the same day First World War ace The Red Baron was finally shot down and the year the Royal Air Force was formed.
He served as a staff sergeant with the Army for six years and it was during this time, on a trip in an RAF flying boat, he was first inspired to take to the skies.
The widower said: ‘I have worked hard all my life and continue to do so now, I didn’t think about stopping for a minute’ (pictured, stepping off a Lancaster Bomber in Nottinghamshire, 1970)
However, it wasn’t until 20 years later, at the age of 43 while working as an engineer for Vauxhall Motors, that Mr Horsfall took his first flying lesson.
In the nearly six decades since, he has owned 56 planes, filled five logbooks, and inspected thousands of aircrafts across the country.
Mr Horsfall’s birthday celebrations yesterday included a cake from his former employer Vauxhall, a bottle of champagne from P&O to commemorate one of Ernest’s wartime ‘exploits’, and a Spitfire picture from the RAF.
He added: ‘It was a good day and I’m very grateful.’