Sir David Jason took to the skies in his Robinson R44 helicopter on Wednesday before landing in Buckinghamshire.
The Only Fools And Horses star, 83, certainly looked handsome as he sported a Robinson Helicopter hat and black HeliAir jacket.
David, who became a qualified helicopter pilot in 2005, protected his eyes with black sunglasses as he joined his co-pilot for the trip.
The four-seat aircraft is the world’s best-selling helicopter and is widely used by military and government as well as private individuals.
The actor first took up flying at age 28, reminiscing about his disastrous first flight test in his autobiography, Del Of A Life.
Flying high: Sir David Jason, 83, was seen taking to the skies in his Robinson R44 Rave helicopter on Wednesday before landing in Buckinghamshire
Slick: The Only Fools And Horses star certainly looked handsome as he wore a Robinson Helicopter hat
In the book he explains: “I got lost and had to land in a field to ask a farmer for directions. Poor guy.
“He was surprised enough to see a helicopter land on his land, and even more surprised when Del Boy came out.
“Of course I failed the test and next week the story of the dork who got lost in his cross-country test was all over the airfield.
David added, ‘Nevertheless, I finally passed, and now that I have to travel to meetings and locations across the country, I was able to rationalize the purchase of my own little machine – a four-seat Robinson 44, my mechanical pride and joy.’
David credited flying for helping him launch his acting career: “When I started flying, I realized you didn’t need an academic mind — you just needed determination and dedication.
“I don’t think I would have ever accepted professional acting roles if I hadn’t had the ability to fly.
“I had pretty low self-esteem and it gave me the confidence to believe I could do anything I set my mind to,” he concluded.
The outing comes after David revealed he “never” thought he would appear in one of Britain’s top-rated festive specials – especially after starting out as a goose in front of the camera.
Up and away: David, who became a qualified helicopter pilot in 2005, protected his eyes with black sunglasses as he joined his co-pilot for the trip
Confidence: David credits flying for helping him launch his acting career: “When I started flying, I realized you didn’t need an academic mind – you just needed determination and dedication (pictured in Only Fools and horses).
Hobby: He also donned a black HeliAir jacket and a green fleece
In the sky: The four-seater aircraft is the world’s best-selling helicopter and is widely used by military and government as well as private individuals
The actor made his television debut on December 26, 1965 playing King Goose in a BBC production of Mother Goose.
Thirty-one years later, on December 26, 1996, 24.3 million people saw him as Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter in the Only Fools And Horses Christmas special, where he and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) dressed up as Batman and Robin.
According to the Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board, this is one of the largest viewership figures ever recorded for a single UK broadcast.
The actor first took up flying at age 28, reminiscing about his disastrous first flight test in his autobiography, Del Of A Life
Oops: In the book he explained: “I got lost and had to land in a field to ask a farmer for directions. Poor guy’
Funny: He continued, “He was surprised enough when a helicopter landed on his land, and even more surprised when Del Boy came out.”
Oh dear: “Of course I failed the test and next week the story of the dork who got lost in his cross-country test was all over the airfield,” he laughed
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, David said: “It’s been a journey. You never thought this could happen to you playing the King of Goose Land on TV…you’re lucky if you have another job.”
David, who grew up in North Finchley, London, shared how his whole family gathered to see his first television appearance.
He said: “The thing is, you come from a poor, working-class family and because television was fairly new at the time, it wasn’t in everyone’s house.
“But then having one of your own, actually having one of your family on TV itself was an amazing achievement.”
What is the cost of operating a Robinson R44 helicopter?
- According to Real Business, the helicopter costs £350,000 new and uses half that
- The hourly running cost for the Robinson is a few hundred pounds
- However, there are annual fixed costs of several tens of thousands of euros