BRITAIN’s most senior air force officer swapped the world of high-speed jets for a very different form of transport during a visit to North Yorkshire.

The Chief of the Air Staff was among the first to take to the wheel at the relaunch of RAF Leeming’s karting club.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford took pole position against station commander Group Captain David Bradshaw shortly after officially re-opening of the mini motor club.

The club stopped running a few years ago as the existing vehicles got older and previous members were posted elsewhere.

But earlier this year, a small group of enterprising individuals from across the station got together to reform the group – and have made it something really special with some financial assistance and a lot of determination.

Treasurer Corporal Matt Bowers said: “We had spent a couple of years trying to get the club running again and as part of that decided to try to bid for some new karts. The club already had some but they were about 15 years old.”

RAF Leeming donated a percentage of the cost from the Junior Welfare fund – a locally based committee which organises and helps fund activities on station. But the lion’s share came from the Royal Air Force central fund – a charity which spends around £5 million year supporting the serving RAF community.

The funds enabled the club to buy eight karts which are far more reliable and safety-conscious than their predecessors. As well as being used by club members themselves, the karts will be available for hire by other station personnel.