HC Deb 22 January 1988 vol 125 c900W
Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the recent non-stop flight from Britain to the Falkland Islands.

Mr. Ian Stewart

As part of an operational training exercise, an RAF VC1O flew non-stop from RAF Brize Norton to the Falkland Islands, leaving on 19 December 1987, and then returned non-stop. The aircraft was air-to-air refuelled both southbound and northbound. The direct operating cost was £140,000, all of which fell within the budget for the agreed flying activity levels for the RAF.