"Son's
pride as George Best flies high"
Belfast Telegraph - 15th March 2006
George Best's son Calum told of his pride today as an aircraft was named after his father.
Calum joined his grandfather Dickie and other relatives for the unveiling of 'The George Best', a specially-branded Q400 flybe aircraft with a portrait of the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland star on its fuselage.
The Belfast City Airport ceremony marked the aircraft's inaugural flight, as members of the Best family travelled in it to Manchester for tomorrow's national memorial service for the football star at Manchester Cathedral.
Calum and Dickie carried out the official unveiling and christening ceremony of the craft with a bottle of champagne at the City Airport.
They were joined by George's brother Ian and four sisters Carol, Grace, Julie and Barbara, who was moved to tears by the sight of the portrait.
After the unveiling ceremony, Calum said: "It is a great tribute to my dad. The legacy of my father started in Belfast before he moved to Manchester so it is fitting that the plane is going to fly between the two cities.
"It is going to be weird travelling on a plane with a picture of my dad on the side of it but the family is very flattered and grateful and I'm very happy."
Dickie Best said: "The lifesize image of George on the side of the plane in his trademark red strip and characteristic footballing stance is a wonderful tribute and I reckon if George could be with us today he would be quite taken with the idea of kicking a ball at 30,000 feet."
The idea of naming an aircraft after George followed his premature death last November at the age of 59 and the huge outpouring of public grief that followed.
flybe's Company director of marketing, Simon Lilley, said: "The George Best will be in active service on the Belfast to Manchester route and, indeed, throughout the flybe network promoting George's memory throughout the UK and Europe.
"It is also a great
honour for flybe that The George Best's first passengers include his closest
family and friends.
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