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MUNCIE - For a fellow on his very first flight, Lester Layton seemed pretty down to earth.
"It looks a lot different up here than it does down there," said Layton, who turns 90 on Wednesday.
A resident of Manor Care Health Services in Anderson, he was the recipient of an early birthday present Monday, beginning when an Anderson limousine service whisked him to the Delaware County Airport for a 10 a.m. appointment with a white-and-silver Piper Saratoga ll.
Two groups that were formed to make elderly people's dreams come true - Heart's Desire and the Never Too Late Foundation - had combined forces on this day.
Their mission?
To make Layton's hope of "slipping the surly bonds of earth," as the legendary poem High Flight more or less puts it, a reality.
Muncie Aviation Co. provided the plane and pilot. Soon, accompanied by Manor Care social services director Becky Tabor and nurse Andy Umberger, a waving Layton was airborne on a perfect day for flying.
Layton's daughter had assured Tabor that he had never flown. Still, he was obviously adept in the ground-bound banter known as "hangar flying."
"He talks about it all the time," Tabor said.
Dressed in a brown cap and blue jacket, the Summitville-area native was the picture of nonchalance as he and Umberger pointed out the sights.
"You don't realize there are so many houses around," Layton said over the throaty growl of the engine as the pilot headed for Anderson.
"Hey, Lester!" Umberger said. "Where we live is right down there! Do you see it down there?"
With a sweeping turn the pilot set a course back to the east, circling Muncie before angling to where Prairie Creek Lake rippled, glistening under brilliant sunshine.
"Water," Layton noted, pointing.
All too soon, the pilot was back in the airport traffic pattern. As we turned to make our final approach to the runway, Layton checked his watch like a frequent flier with a tight connection to make.
"Home," he said, and soon the tires kissed the runway.
Contact John Carlson at 213-5824.
