RAF girls pay with their knickers for ride in jets

Pilots of the Royal Air Force have come up with a novel way of making their female passengers pay for their ride in a jet - by asking for their knickers in return as fare.

The panties, which are framed, can be seen adorning a whole wall of the Tornado pilots' bar, with some even hanging from the ceiling.

Fast jet crews started the tradition at Mount Pleasant airfield in the Falklands, but pilots of helicopters and rescue planes charged a bra for a joyride.

"If you went flying with all the different aircraft in the Falklands, you wouldn't have any underwear left," the Sun quoted a woman RAF officer as saying.

The fast jet pilots' private bar, which is a converted bedroom, is also decorated with an ejector seat.

"Any woman who wants a flight in a jet has to offer her underwear in return," another female officer said.

"Underneath the framed women's underwear are messages like 'Thanks for the ride' and 'Thanks for making me squeal'," she said.

RAF sources confirmed on June 17 the existence of the knickers display.

"All flights are approved. There is no question of illicit use of jets," a senior officer said.

"Passengers are not forced to hand over knickers as a fare - but if they wish to make a donation, that is entirely up to them," he explained.

The Ministry of Defence added: "Nobody should get upset about this. There's an approved system for allowing passenger flights in jets."