Mr. Lowe, who was born and raised in Shoal Harbour, had hoped to fly over his old home town that day, but time didn't permit. He says he fell in love with the idea of flying in 1933 when he was just three years old. General Italo Balbo and his armada of ‘flying boats’ landed in Shoal Harbour, on their way back to Italy from the Chicago World Fair. He says he was fascinated with the planes.

When he was old enough to leave Shoal Harbour, he headed to Ontario. In 1953 he signed up with the Royal Canadian Radio Officers School.

He obtained his pilot’s license in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, just before he left the forces. In 1961 he came back to Newfoundland to fly for Eastern Provincial Airways (EPA).

He left the province again in 1965 to sign on with Pacific Western Airlines which later bought Canadian Pacific Airlines. The new company became known as Canadian Airlines. For the next twenty-five years, from his home base in Vancouver, he flew all over the world-across Canada, into the United States and to many destinations in Europe.

He retired Valentines’ Day, 1990. His last commercial flight was from Los Angeles to Vancouver.

Although he now makes his home in Vancouver, he visits family and friends in Newfoundland just about every year. He returned home this April and goes back to British Columbia in June.

"It’s amazing how it comes back to you, how you get the feel of it again" he says.

In fact, the one-hour flight over St. John’s made him realize how much he would like to do it again. When he returns to British Columbia in June, he plans to rent a plane occasionally, just for the fun of it.

As for the pursuit of dreams, Mr. Lowe has a bit of advice.