London, June 19: Pilots of the Royal Air Force have come up with a novel way of making their female passengers pay for their ride in a jet - by asking for their knickers in return as fare.
The panties, which are framed, can be seen adorning a whole wall of the Tornado pilots` bar, with some even hanging from the ceiling. Fast jet crews started the tradition at Mount Pleasant airfield in the Falklands, but pilots of helicopters and rescue planes charged a bra for a joyride.
"If you went flying with all the different aircraft in the Falklands, you wouldn`t have any underwear left," the Sun quoted a woman RAF officer as saying. The fast jet pilots` private bar, which is a converted bedroom, is also decorated with an ejector seat.
"Any woman who wants a flight in a jet has to offer her underwear in return," another female officer said. "Underneath the framed women`s underwear are messages like `Thanks for the ride` and `Thanks for making me squeal`," she said.
RAF sources confirmed on June 17 the existence of the knickers display. "All flights are approved. There is no question of illicit use of jets," a senior officer said.
"Passengers are not forced to hand over knickers as a fare - but if they wish to make a donation, that is entirely up to them," he explained. The ministry of defence added: "Nobody should get upset about this. There`s an approved system for allowing passenger flights in jets."
ANI