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As the seemingly unremarkable ZZ-343 aircraft taxies along the apron at RAF Brize Norton, it passes the vibrant Union Flag livery of its distinctly more glamorous twin The Vespina, emblazoned with the words “UNITED KINGDOM”.
The planes are fine examples of these islands’ genius for compromise. They’re passenger carriers that are also airborne fuel tankers, known as Voyager. Vespina is fitted out to carry royalty and other British VIPs – but put to better use by the military most of the time.
On this autumnal evening, ZZ-343 left her sibling on a once almost unimaginabl
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