Hoy flew over Hoy

The ‘Gold Man of Hoy’ was in the skies above Orkney yesterday, Wednesday, when six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy flew over his namesake island in an RAF jet.

Great Britain’s most successful Olympian experienced speed of a different kind with a flight in the Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft of 6 Squadron during a visit to RAF Leuchars in Fife.

Clearly impressed by the experience, he said on social network Twitter: “What a day, a ride in a Typhoon fighter jet has to be one of the most spectacular experiences I have ever had.

He added: “I managed to hold my breakfast down too. The flight path went up to The Old Man of Hoy in Orkney, pretty awesome to see.”

Typhoon aircraft were based at RAF Northolt in London to provide air security during the London Olympics.