GULF SHORES, Ala. — Charlie Northrop got to do something on Thursday morning that he hasn’t done in more than 60 years. With the skies blue, the air crisp and on a perfect day for flying, the 87-year-old Army Air Corps veteran jumped into the co-pilot seat of a P-51 Mustang and went for a ride.

As part of the Wings of Freedom Tour hosted by the Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores, three Vintage WWII aircraft were on display on Thursday, and Northrop took advantage of the opportunity to fly again.

With his wife Rosemary Carrico looking on, Northrop, who stayed in the states during the war as part of the training command, went up for a 30-minute flight, even taking the controls for a while.

“This is the first time we have ever been to an event like this, and when he saw that he had an opportunity to go up in one of the planes, he decided to spend his children’s inheritance and do it,” Carrico laughed.

After an exciting half hour of steep turns, some mild aerobatics, and even a barrel roll, Northrop climbed out of “Betty Jane” with thumbs up and a huge smile on his face.

Accompanied by pilot Mark Henley, a general aviation pilot with 30 years experience flying war birds, Northrop was thrilled with his experience.

“I flew one of these during my days in the military, along with a P-39 and a P-40, but that was over 60 years ago,” Northrop recalled. “It felt great to be in the cockpit of this beautiful airplane with a great pilot. It was nice and smooth.”

Northrop had joked with his wife that flying these planes was the second best thing in life, and that he couldn’t remember what the first thing was.

“Yes, going up and flying again brought back memories,” said Northrop who said he was hesitant at first about flying again. “My wife kind of talked me into it. I was a little reluctant.  I thought I might get sick.  Actually I have gotten sick in one of these when I was flying alone. But she talked me into it and said I should do it, so I did.”

The spry senior adult, who met his wife of 14 years while riding his bicycle across the United States, remembered how close he came to flying in combat.

“Near the end of the war, we were scheduled to go into a different kind of airplane for the invasion of Japan,” said Northrop.

Known also as the Thunderbolt, the P-47 was the heaviest and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine.

“We were training to go over and engage with Japan, but the war ended before I had to go.”

On this day, Charlie Northrop was happy to be flying again, and apparently impressed Henley.

“He only screamed once,” Northrop laughed.