FLIGHT OF FANTAS SY

As the RAF celebrates its 100th birthday, historic aircraft are set to take to the skies for the Battle of Britain Air Show. Angela Cole previews the show and meets possibly the only man on Earth to commute to work in a Spitfire

One man heading into the skies in a magnificent flying machine, is Antony Parkinson MBE – known as Parky – who recently joined the Headcornbased Aero Legends team. He signed up as the main pilot for all Spitfire operations with Aero Legends, after a long and distinguished career in the RAF, and four years with the Red Arrows.

Despite years flying the Euro Fighter Typhoon, F4 Phantom, Tornado F3, and the Hawk with the Red Arrows, he’s so at home in the Spitfire that he commutes to work in it.

“I live in Lincolnshire, so I drive and pick up the plane and then fly down to Kent. It’s an easy journey - much easier than driving! And it’s a joy too. “Here in Headcorn, we’re also about 20 minutes from the White Cliffs of Dover, so it’s fantastic.

“Just to experience the joy of flying in a Spitfire is the best job in the world.” Parky joined the RAF at just 18 and became the first pilot to gain 1,000 hours flying the Euro Fighter Typhoon. He says: “My grandfather was in the Royal Flying Corps and was a pilot in the First World War, so maybe it’s in the genes. I’ve always wanted to do it. “I joined the cadets at school but you couldn’t get a pilot’s licence until you were 17. I have flown some extraordinary machines and have been incredibly lucky.

If somebody had told me when I was 17 that I would have flown tornadoes and with the Red Arrows I wouldn’t have believed it. I have had the most wonderful career so far.” Despite his career flying the most state-of-the-art craft there is, he has no problem moving to a vintage craft. He also flew with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

“It is still a bit like driving a car

- flying is flying,” he said. “It is the nuances of flying the Spitfire which make it different. When you land you have to keep the nose in the air, which does mean you can’t see the ground! “But I cannot explain the virtues of the Spitfire enough. It is the most extraordinary vehicle and the most beautiful aircraft ever built. It does symbolise the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. The Germans were in awe of them.

“It is an icon and has a unique quality. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It is so delicate to fly and incredibly safe.”

Some 20,000 of the craft were built, with the first flying in 1936, and just 60 survive today - with two at Aero Legends, where the team perform elegant and awe-inspiring displays in the air.

It is a different type of flying for Parky, but one he loves.

“Leaving the RAF was tough, but this is a joy. There is something incredibly beautiful about doing aerobatics in an aircraft - you are looking around and flying the aircraft.

“You can see the crowd and the incredible sunsets. The show this year is extra special as the RAF are celebrating this year. It is a great milestone.

“The RAF was the first air force that was formed and it will always be at the cutting edge of technology. The country should be very proud.”

Flt Lt Antony Parkinson MBE, known as Parky