HIGH FLYER: Mary Bowie achieved her goal of being a pilot at the age of 64. She is pictured with the Cessna 152 in which she learned to fly at the North Shore Aero Club in Dairy Flat.
Age is no barrier when it comes to achieving your dreams.
North Shore Aero Club members Mary Bowie of Panmure and Tim Ridge of Devonport, 64 and 71 respectively, fulfilled their childhood dreams of becoming pilots at the club's Dairy Flat airfield.
Mary was ecstatic after passing her test and "just about flew all the way home".
She enjoys the sense of adventure, along with the challenges and satisfaction she gets out of flying.
"Learning to fly was quite hard initially," she says.
"But there were lots of people to encourage and motivate me.
"There was a women's flying club, and one of the pilots inspired me to go through with it."
Mary used to travel the country on her yacht, but will now "fly everywhere instead" on a plane chartered from the club.
The midwife also hopes to put both her piloting and midwifery skills to use, flying to remote areas helping patients.
Tim is on his way to completing his private pilot license, having flown his first solo cross-country flight to Whangarei and Kerikeri.
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