"I did, supposedly so did my dad," he said, with a shrug. "Family stories, but I like to think it's true."

There was an insignia on the side, just next to the pilot's cockpit, of a lancing knight, in black. The rest of the plane looked like she still wore her 1940 colours, and that was because he'd very carefully painted her that way.

"She's always brought me home," he said, fondly, patting the fuselage.