RAF pilot's final flight after 45 years in the air

Flt Lt Richard "Ricko" Offord says he has had "a good innings" after his 45-year RAF career

An RAF pilot has said he was "quite emotional" after making his final solo flight after a 45-year flying career which saw him amass about 16,000 hours in the air.

Flt Lt Richard "Ricko" Offord, 64, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, first took to the skies for the air force in 1980 and has been based at RAF Leeming since 1998.

During his career, he piloted several different models of fast jet and in 1995 was forced to eject from his Tornado F3 after a mid-air collision.

Flt Lt Offord said he was "a bit sad" about his retirement, and was saluted by fire engines upon landing at RAF Leeming and surprised by colleagues, family and friends, but added: "I've had a pretty good innings."

After his final flight, Flt Lt Offord, who is RAF Leeming's longest serving fast jet pilot, said: "I started flying fighters in 1982. It's quite a long time, so I'm not too upset."

However, he said his time in the sky had not fully come to an end.

"I'll carry on flying, but I can't do it in military planes," he explained.

"You can only do it up to age 65, unfortunately, and I'm 65 on Tuesday, so this is it."

After his final flight, Flt Lt Offord was surprised by family, colleagues and friends at RAF Leeming

Asked about any dramatic incidents during his long career, Flt Lt Offord said: "I was once knocked out and woke up on the ground in Lincolnshire.

"We were doing air combat and I bumped into the other aircraft, so his tail and my wing came off. They don't fly very well without tails or wings."

Pondering his lucky escape further, he added: "I didn't fly for a year due to back injuries, but all four of us ejected and everyone walked away, so that's the main thing."

Speaking about the surprise welcoming committee and celebrations waiting for him after he landed for the final time in his Hawker Hunter at RAF Leeming, Flt Lt Offord said: "I had a little tear, to be fair."

"I had no idea they were going to be here," he said.

"The whole reception with mates and fire engines, it's made me a bit emotional."

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