Lincoln's aviation industry is off to a flyer

The first aircraft to be made in Lincolnshire for 90 years has rolled off the production line.

The microlight plane has been hand-built by a firm at Wickenby Aerodrome at the former RAF Wickenby.

Weather permitting, the completed T600 N Sprint will make it's first and last official flight out of the airfield today. The two-seater single engine aircraft will be flown to Carlisle Airfield where its new owner will take it back to Northern Ireland.

Aviation enthusiasts Gerald Cooper and Steve Turley bought the former Australian company – which has previously been Thruster Australia and Thruster UK – three years ago.

"Because the Thruster microlight is relatively inexpensive to buy and cheap to run, it has generated much interest as a low cost entrant to the world of flying," said Mr Turley.

"Indeed, many people are surprised to learn that it costs just £15 an hour to run. This is a huge benefit when we are all conscious of costs. There will always be a yearning for people to fly, even during an economic downturn."

The black, front propeller model, is the first to be manufactured in the county since December 2, 1919. The last one made at Stamp End in Lincoln was a single-seater Sopwith Camel.

Now a further three orders for the £34,442 plane, which takes 10 weeks to make are in the pipeline.