A SPIRITED 91-year-old fulfilled her life's ambition yesterday when she enjoyed a surprise helicopter flight of fantasy.

Wynn Short had never flown before and said the birthday treat, which was sprung on her by her grandson Jason Marks and his family, had been a "dream come true".

The high-flying grandmother-of-three from Cookley arrived at the village playing fields with army sergeant, Jason, who told her he had a meeting with a helicopter pilot about a military display, and said she was "flabbergasted" to find out the chopper was for her.

Coming back down to earth after a birds-eye tour of Kidderminster, Bewdley and Trimpley, the pensioner - who was the oldest person pilot Robert Power had ever taken as a passenger - said she had loved every minute of her ride in the four-seater Robinson R44 aircraft.

"It was absolutely gorgeous up there," she told an excited crowd of friends and relatives, including two of her three grandchildren and her two great grandchildren.

"You wouldn't think there was anything like it on earth - I looked down and thought that wasn't there when I was walking down the lane - I'm thrilled to pieces."

The super-gran added: "I'm 91 today and have enjoyed my life, but this is the best present I've ever had - all I'm waiting for now is a letter from the Queen."

Jason, who held Wynn's hand throughout the flight, said he had tried to organise the same event for her 90th birthday, but had his plans dashed when the army had posted him on an operational tour of Ireland.

"It was great to see her smiling face - I'm just glad it's all come together," said the 34-year-old high-flyer, who is with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters regiment.

"I couldn't sort it out last year, so I was determined to make sure we did it this year."

Wynn, who toured Cookley in a horse and trap for her 80th birthday, added: "We went over Kidderminster, Bewdley and Trimpley and Jason showed me where my bungalow was. We came back over Wolverley - it was wonderful."

She added the children of Cookley First School, who congregated to see the aircraft, had made her treat all the more special by singing "Happy Birthday" to her.

"It has always been her life's ambition to go up in a helicopter and now she has done it I am delighted," said her 55-year-old daughter Lesley Reynolds.

Meanwhile, Jason, who booked the flight with Bobbington-based company Heliflight, said his grandmother's experience had made him determined to follow his own dream of learning to fly.

"It's something I've always wanted to do - and now I've made my mind to do it after sorting this out," he said.

Captain Power, who has been flying helicopters for six years, added the oldest passenger he had previously flown had been 81.

"I've never flown anyone as old as 91 before - and I think she was blown away by the experience and absolutely loved it," he said.

"It was just a gorgeous day and we could see for miles into the Cotswolds and Wales - so it was perfect - and fantastic fun."

This is not the first - or the last - time that Wynn, who served as a cook in the army during the Second World War, will see her face in print.

Indeed, the daring pensioner modelled for this year's Age Concern calendar and is set to see her smiling face in the 2005 sequel, Full Metal Granny.