RAF pilot dedicates Schneider Trophy win to friend who died in BBMF Spitfire crash

An RAF pilot has won the Schneider Trophy, ending a 30-year drought for the RAF, with a plane he built himself.

The trophy, which has been a symbol of aviation excellence since 1912, was dedicated by Squadron Leader Ben Polwin to his late sister, Hannah, and his friend, Squadron Leader Mark Long.

Sqn Ldr Polwin, accustomed to piloting multi-million-pound jets, spent four years building the Vans RV-7 in his garage.

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Despite the project's humble beginnings, he and his wife Sophie – both experienced pilots – managed to secure the win in their first competitive race.

"Our whole feeling was the fact that we've got an airplane that I built in the shed that we could participate in one of the most prestigious air racing events," Sqn Ldr Polwin said. "Winning it was never, never on the cards."

Sqn Ldr Polwin dedicated his win to his friend, Mark Long who died in a crash involving a Second World War Spitfire near RAF Coningsby in May.

Sqn Ldr Long was a Typhoon pilot at RAF Coningsby and had been a pilot with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for the last four years.

His name was featured on the tail of the RV-7, honouring his memory and their shared passion for aviation.

"We spoke a lot about air racing, and he liked flying in the airplane not long before he died. Sadly, and I thought it was quite fitting to race that event with his name on the tail," Sqn Ldr Polwin remarked.

When asked what Sqn Ldr Polwin thinks his friend would have thought about him winning, the pilot said that Sqn Ldr Long would have been proud.

Sqn Ldr Polwin's wife, Sophie, who is a former Royal Canadian Air Force and RAF pilot said: "It was strictly just taking part in his memory, doing our best."

The Schneider Trophy was established in 1912 to push the boundaries of aviation design.

This victory marks the first time in more than 30 years that the prestigious trophy has returned to the RAF.

This year's race required navigating a 30-nautical-mile course with tight turns and challenging conditions.

During a last-minute decision, Sqn Ldr Polwin adapted his strategy, opting for tighter turns over maintaining high speeds, a decision that proved to be successful.

"I had a sleepless night on the Saturday night and thought, there's got to be a better way of doing this," Sqn Ldr Polwin explained.

With this achievement, the couple plan to continue participating in air racing, nurturing their shared passion for pushing the boundaries of aviation.