AEROBATIC pilots who wowed residents with their daring display over the skies of Furness have given Mail readers an exclusive insight into their work by inviting us along to their airbase in Yorkshire.

RAF fast jet instructors caused something of a social media storm when their turboprop Tucano planes were seen engaging in what appeared to be a "dogfight" above Barrow last month.

Residents across Urswick, Askam, Dalton and Ulverston also witnessed the dramatic display and Flight Lieutenant Chris 'Nasher' Nash contacted The Mail to claim responsibility.

Based at RAF base Linton-on-Ouse in Yorkshire, Flt Lt Nash teaches new recruits the skills and techniques needed in order to gain their wings and take to the skies.

As well as accompanying the young top guns on their training sorties, the experienced instructor is also required to maintain his own skills and put his expertise to the test during the Tucano flight in south Cumbria alongside a fellow RAF flying instructor.

Described as a "tailchase", Flt Lt Nash's two-ship formation display made use of classic acrobatic manoeuvres including barrel rolling, loops and spins.

In response to our coverage, Flt Lt Nash invited The Mail to his airbase on Monday where he opened up the hangar doors and showed us the planes at close quarters.

We were also allowed to take the Tucano to the skies over Barrow and the Lake District using their flight simulator.

Linton-on-Ouse is home to 72 Squadron which this year celebrates its centenary.

The squadron was granted permission to paint one of its Tucanos in traditional Spitfire colours and has carried out a number of flypasts to mark its 100-year anniversary.

The Tucano is a modified version of the Brazilian aircraft, made under licence in Belfast, and has been used by the RAF to provide basic fast jet flying training to RAF and RN student pilots since the 1980s.

Although it is a propeller plane, the Tucano does have a jet engine which is used to generate thrust for the propellers, and has two rudimentary exhausts underneath the cockpit.

In 2019, the Tucano is set to be retired and replaced by the American-built T-6C Texan II.

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