DENISON, Texas (KTEN) — Weldon McClane, a 99-year-old Army veteran, soared through the sky in a World War II-era biplane on Wednesday.

McClane was attending Sadler High School when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Once he turned 18, he joined the Army infantry and became a combat engineer shortly after D-Day.

Dream Flights is an organization that has been operating since 2011 with the goal of providing aviation experiences for veterans as a way to thank them for their service to the country.

Weldon McClane signs the tail of the vintage biplane that provided his Dream Flights ride.
Weldon McClane signs the tail of the vintage biplane that provided his Dream Flights ride. (KTEN)

McClane's departure had been scheduled for 9 a.m. on Wednesday at North Texas Regional Airport, but was delayed over a mechanical issue.

"I'm very excited," he said. "Somebody lost the plane! There's supposed to be a plane around here someplace!"

A short time later, McClane took to the skies for an exhilarating 15-minute open-cockpit flight over Lake Texoma.

McClane will turn 100 in May, and said he's already booking his next flight arrangements.

 
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