That Magnificent Man

FLYING nut Russell Abrahams built his own plane - using bits of an old steam iron and ,a Tesco trolley. Russell, 52, spent five years creating an entire aircraft from scrap. He stuck the wings together with Sellotape and uses two dog leads for steering. Brake cables came from an old bike, the rev counter from a lawn mower and the temperature gauge from an MG sports car. Russell's single-seater can fly at 10,00Oft and 120mph thanks to its old VW Beetle engine. And it lands on wheels scavenged from a go-kart, with a rear wheel from a Tesco trolley. But air safety inspectors declared the plane fit to fly. Russell, from Greater Manchester, said They were stunned to find the flying control was mad from my wife's old iron. "I put it on steam, for takeoff, cotton far cruising and linen for landing. Professional pilots are too scared to go up in it, but it's safe as houses. "The inspectors say, it has a certificate because it's a b***y good plane"' Russell goes up his "Tesco Wheeler" once a week. He added: "This is the only way to fly " Tesco said: `Our old trolleys are very sturdy and reliable."