Tonka’s FINal Flypast

‘Don’t blink you might miss it!’

What-Ho! 

So, the flypast of the ‘Mighty FIN’ took place yesterday at RAF Cosford, ah one of my favourite bases to work at and some splendid people to work with.

Thousands of like-minded aircraft fans assembled today to witness the FINal flight of the ‘Tonka’ Tornados! In some forty years of flying and making us proud and protecting our freedom, the Tornado had to say ‘ta-rah’ to all of us and there wasn’t a dry eye in Shifnal and yes, yes I have to say, mine too. 

The chaps and chapesses at Cosford laid on a good show for us all yesterday. There are some amazing exhibitions for all to see from little lads and lasses to us grown ups who are still children at heart; and why not eh! All good fun! My particular favourite is the Cold War Exhibition as my trusty steeds Val, Victor and Vinnie are all there happily ensconced within the fine realms of the museum, reminding us all of the enormity and fabulousness that is at Cosford, the heart of our British engineering and aircraft. 

Anyway, I could get very carried away here and I was and soon it was time to hot foot it to the great outdoors and raise a salute and give the Tonka its well-deserved send off, into the skies.

After we all had tucked into our delicious lunches, we were all feeling content and ready to see the three-ship team come into view and wow us all with their prowess. Although a little quiet, especially for these rumbustious and noisy aircraft, it was almost as if they were sad too and their melancholic manoeuvres wowed, if only for a split second and soon the horizon was part of history itself. 

And so off the three-ship formation did fly, off into the skies and the realms of endless opportunity and imagination for all.

Tally-Ho!