A RESTAURANTEUR has bought a decommissioned Iraqi fighter jet to inspire childrens’ interest in aviation.
The MiG-17-type aircraft will be on display at his Turner’s Hill Indian restaurant – as well as airshows across the country.
The powerful jet cost £80,000 and is only one of two in the UK.
The Polish TS-11 Iska was built in 1973, can fly at 466mph, cruise at 36,000 feet and uses around one litre of fuel per second.
The unusual purchase is a joint venture between Tarana owner Ashraf Shah Talukder and pilot Mustufa Azim.
Mr Talukder said: “The thinking behind it was to do some airshow displays and carry our restaurant name on the plane. It will give visitors, particularly children the chance to see the plane for the first time and sit in the cockpit.
“I’ve always been very keen on the idea of flying planes myself and Mustafa is training me up.”
Mr Azim, director of 3G Aviation, said: “We believe the aircraft might have been a spy plane during the cold war as we found a camera mounted in the nose right next to the canon.
“Because of health and safety reasons and after 9/11 children aren’t allowed into the cockpits of aeroplanes anymore. We thought it would be a good idea to give children the chance to get into an aircraft for free and see what it feels like to have a fighter pilot.
“I’m sure it must be very inspiring for children to sit in an aircraft for the first time.
“Kids don’t only become pilots either – they could be involved in other areas of aviation; there’s a lot of possibilities.”