A Royal Air Force fighter jet's final flight should be to Cumbria, an MP believes.

The RAF will soon ground - then decommission - its iconic Tornado aircraft.

And Penrith and the Border MP Rory Stewart believe it would be an ideal addition to a popular aircraft attraction.

He has written to Defence Minister Lord Howe, asking that one of the Tornado aircraft fuselage be given to the Solway Aviation Museum at Carlisle Airport.

It's a gesture that the Conservative politician - himself a government minister - believes would recognised the contribution that Cumbria has made to the RAF, as the service celebrates its centenary year.

Mr Stewart said: “I have written to make the case for a Tornado for Cumbria.

"It would be a great tribute to the people of Cumbria if a Tornado could be flown into Carlisle Lake District Airport and presented to the Solway Aviation Museum."

There, the aircraft would add to the collection of historic RAF jets and other aircraft which are housed there.

Tornados have been familiar sights in the skies above Cumbria over the decades, with parts of the county used for low-flying training exercises.

Among the sites targeted for such training is the exercise area at RAF Spadeadam, east of Brampton.

In active service, the fast bombers are currently being used to fight ISIS in Syria. There are said to be 36 Tornados in operation.

But they are being withdrawn from operations later this year, reportedly to be replaced by F-35B jets.

As they are withdrawn, aviation museums across the country are expected to bid to house some of them as part of their collections.

Mr Stewart believes the Carlisle attraction would be an ideal venue and added: "Cumbria has hosted RAF servicemen since its foundation and continues its proud tradition to this day.

"For this reason, there is no better place for one of the nation’s fleet to retire to and I have made this case to Lord Howe.
Rory Stewart

"I have always enjoyed visiting the museum and very much hope we can secure this exciting new exhibit”.

The Solway Aviation Museuem - renowned for the remarkable Vulcan Bomber which is part of its collection - recently reopened for a new season.

The bid for the Tornado comes at an exciting time for the airport in general, as a revamp and rebranding of the airfield leads to its first passenger flights in 25 years.

Owners Stobart Group have signed a deal with Scottish airline Loganair to begin daily flights to London Southend, Dublin, and Belfast from June 4.

The search for cabin crew to support that work has started.

The RAF has a rich history in north Cumbria, paying a particularly important part in World War Two with bases in the Carlisle area at Crosby-on-Eden, Kingstown and Silloth. An airfield at Kirkbride remains in private operation.

Carlisle was also home to the RAF 14MU depot which, after its closure in 1997, was transformed into the Kingmoor Park industrial area.