THEY are more at home in an aeroplane than a 39-year-old Austin 1100, but for three Brize Norton airmen that is part of the fun.

Corporal Alan Lea, Senior Aircraftman Wayne Brinkley and Corporal Jamie Rosbotham will squeeze into the veteran motor to drive to every RAF base in the country – via Land’s End and John O’Groats.

The three Suppliers from the Forward Logistics Squadron, who between them have been in the military for 30 years, are hoping to collect £100 from all 45 air bases.

With other donations, they hope to smash their fundraising target of £5,000 – all in aid of Help for Heroes.

Cpl Lea, 28, said: “We’ve been toying with the idea for a while.

“A couple of years ago an aircraft blew up over Afghanistan with RAF crew on board and a sergeant from Brize Norton was also killed in Iraq.

“But our motivation is not just the RAF, it’s to support all the Armed Forces.”

Cpl Rosbotham, 33, originally from Stafford, said: “When I was in Baghdad I saw a lot of guys coming back on stretchers in the aircraft and I want to help them by raising money if I can.”

The gold 1971 Austin 1100 – donated by SAC Brinkley’s grandparents Bill and Sue Cann – will travel almost 3,000 miles through England, Scotland and Wales.

Cpl Lea added: “We don’t know how much it’s worth – more than a few hundred pounds because it’s a classic car.

“We are taking a couple of spare wheels, spark plugs and oil, but not a great deal.

“The biggest challenge will be dealing with the weather in Scotland in an Austin. We are expecting it to be very cold and potentially snow on the Highlands.”

The trio have set themselves four days for the trip, starting at Land’s End on Monday, February 8.

The first stop is RAF St Mawgan, Cornwall, and early in the trip they visit Wootton Bassett, to pause at the war memorial, before heading through Wales to Liverpool.

From there, they begin the seven-hour trip to John O’Groats. They eventually finish at Brize Norton.

SAC Brinkley, 25, said: “It’s a good cause, for people fighting for our country and losing limbs.”

Support the drive by visiting justgiving.com/brizenorton