Father-Son Pilot Duo Recreates 30-Year-Old Photo They Took Together In The Cockpit: ‘A Dream Come True Moment’

A pilot who is seen in a 30-year-old photo of him sitting in the cockpit with his toddler is being recreated all these decades later.

In the first photo, taken in 1994, a young Ruben Flowers sits in the co-pilot’s seat and stares at his father with admiration. The pilot, also named Ruben Flowers, is seen smiling for the camera before he begins his flight.

Flowers’ son, now 30, is getting ready to start his career as a first officer for Southwest Airlines, CNN reported. He reflected on his journey after finding the adorable photo of himself and his father at his grandmother’s house.

“It was a dream of mine to make it to this point to fly with my dad, it was probably my number one aviation goal,” he told CNN Travel.

After digging up the photo, the father and son decided to recreate the scene as colleagues. The perfect opportunity came in March when the older Flowers was flying a Southwest flight for the final time. As the father flew from Nebraska to Chicago, his son stayed by his side, serving as his first officer. That’s when the duo recreated the photo.

“It was just great to be able to recreate that moment,” the younger Flowers said. “It was a dream come true moment.”

The older Flowers was also joined by his brother and cousin as he flew for the final time before retirement.

“There are seven of us,” the retiring pilot told CNN. “Me. My brother’s a pilot. I have three kids, all pilots. And my brother’s son is a pilot and my cousin is a pilot. And it’s just amazing to me that they all wanted to be pilots.”