World War I pilot Vernon Coombs is reunited with an Avro 504 like the one he flew in the war , as a surprise to celebrate his 90th birthday at the RAF Museum at Hendon . The former Royal Flying Corp pilot's treat was arranged by his two sons and included meeting another RFC veteran and lunch at RAF Northolt where he trained 70 years ago before being posted to France where he was shot down in 1917 .