A primary school pupil has achieved his dream of becoming a pilot thanks to a football club.
Iacob Munteanu, 11, has wanted to be a pilot since he went on an aeroplane for the first time three years ago – a Ryanair flight from Budapest to Edinburgh.
Queen’s Park FC Foundation organised a flying experience at Strathaven Airfield after Iacob impressed their chief executive Charlie Bennett by listing 130 airlines.
“I was very shocked [when I found out],” Iacob told STV News. “I thought it was actually a lie. I wanted to jump and run around the whole [school] gym hall.”
Iacob is in P7 at Annette Street Primary School, which has forged a close relationship with local team Queen’s Park.
“We firmly believe every child deserves a chance every day,” said Kieran Koszary from the Championship club.
“This story epitomises that – to give Iacob a chance in the aeroplane is so heartwarming and goes back to what we want to do as a football club.”
During the lesson, the youngster flew over Glasgow city centre and above his school, where his classmates were able to watch and wave.
Annette Street headteacher Jemima Anderson said: “I was jumping up and down, spinning around on the spot when we heard.
“I was taking the lead from Iacob who didn’t seem stressed, but when he told me he’d flown over Glasgow city centre and the school, I thought ‘I’m glad I didn’t know that because I would have had to lie down in a dark room’.
“But you have go with these things, you have to grab opportunities for your children when you can.”
Iacob spent time learning about aircraft at Strathaven Airfield, and took to the skies in control of the plane on the return leg from Glasgow.
“It’s amazing, 11 years old and he’s at the control of the plane,” said Colin MacKinnon, who owns the airfield. “I was told he was a natural at it.
“Fingers crossed, in ten years’ time, we go on holiday and we maybe get an upgrade to first class.”
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