RAF's VIP Voyager touches down to show Brize is back open for business
Work on the runway at the UK's largest military airbase has been completed following four months of repairs.
The 3 km-long runway at RAF Brize Norton has been closed since July as part of a £180m revamp, which has seen taxiways refurbished and upgrades to lighting and drainage systems.
BFBS Forces News was there for the runway's reopening, as excited onlookers gathered to watch an RAF Voyager land smoothly onto the brand-new tarmac.
Runway ready
But it wasn't just any Voyager.
Complete with a Union Jack on its fin, the Vespina is a specially customised variant of the tanker-transport aircraft, which functions as the primary VIP transport for the likes of the British royal family and the Prime Minister.
Speaking to BFBS Forces News, Wing Commander Graham Brager, Officer Commanding 101 Squadron, described the emotions inside the cockpit.
"Great feeling to come in today; it really was incredible," he said.
"First aircraft back in, it was certainly a relief, with a big audience and the media presence down here, along with both the station commander and the airwing commander.
"There might have been some cheers from the back because I was also carrying some of my squadron down the back as well."
He added that the flight will give the squadron more assurance and confidence to conduct operations throughout the year.
Business as usual
Meanwhile, Group Captain Stu Patton, Commander Air Wing at RAF Brize Norton, added: "We haven't missed a beat during our time away.
"We've continued to support Quick Reaction Alert, and we've sustained our operations around the world, including the Middle East and taken on new capabilities alongside our partners such as 16 Brigade.
"I recognise that has been an incredible ask from everyone involved, and I'm both really proud and really grateful to see the aircraft coming back here today."
He added: "Things like this show it's not so much about where the air mobility force operates from, but where we can get to around the world."
Ultimately, it means business will resume as normal at the RAF's largest station.
It will be a relief to many in the military community, as aircraft have been diverted to airports across the UK for the past four months.
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