And last week Clydebank man Iain Weir did exactly the same thing but with one major difference — he was flying the plane.

After realising a boyhood dream to become a pilot the 43-year-old ensured himself a place in aviation history last Thursday by becoming the first person to land the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft in Scotland for the first time.

The momentous occasion was witnessed by thousands of people who had taken up various vantage points throughout the area and waited patiently to see the massive Airbus A380 pass over the town on its way to Glasgow Airport.

And despite making history Iain, a former pupil of Clydebank High School, insisted the journey had been made even more special given his own connection to the town.

He added: “It was great. It was a delight to be able to see where I grew up and where I learned to fly.

“The aeroplane is incredibly light and agile to fly. It’s much easier and lighter to fly than some aeroplanes I have flown.” The huge A380 aircraft stands over 24 metres high and with a wing span of nearly 80 metres.

Its arrival last week was designed to mark the 10 year partnership between Emirates and Glasgow Airport.

Passengers on the one-off journeys had access to a cabin which is two-and-a-half feet wider than a Boeing 777, a peaceful journey in the world’s quietest long-range jet, on-board Wi-Fi, world-class in-flight menus and an award-winning entertainment system.

Hubert Frach, Emirates’ senior divisional vice president commercial operations west, said: “As the world’s largest A380 operator, we feel privileged to mark this historic milestone in Glasgow, which also represents a historic milestone for Scotland, as it welcomes an A380 into the region for the first time. Scotland continues to be a vital passenger and cargo market for Emirates and we hope that today underlines our continued commitment to the region.” Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, also hailed the importance of Thursday’s historic flight. She said: “Over the course of the last 10 years Emirates has established itself as Scotland’s leading long-haul airline and we are honoured it has chosen to mark our 10 year partnership by operating Scotland’s first commercial A380 service.

“This is a significant milestone for Glasgow and for Scottish aviation.

“We have worked hard with Emirates to ensure the success of its Dubai service and today is yet another example of its steadfast commitment to Scotland following the introduction of a second daily flight in 2012. While today is billed as a one-off, we hope it is the first step towards Glasgow Airport securing a daily A380 service with Emirates.” Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, added: “As the first Scottish city to welcome the world’s largest passenger airliner, the arrival of Emirates’ A380 in Glasgow is an historic and momentous occasion.”