“LUSTY Lindy” will be celebrating her “15th birthday” at the Yorkshire Air Museum tomorrow.

On November 25, 1993, the Handley Page Victor XL231 – nickname Lusty Lindy – was flown into retirement to the air museum at Elvington, near York, after a long and distinguished service career with the Royal Air Force.

It was saved from the scrapheap by Andre Tempest, a Leeds businessman, after the aircraft was offered for sale.

The Yorkshire Air Museum was approached as the new “home” for the aircraft, and the arrangement has secured the long-term survival of this still futuristic looking aeroplane.

XL231 “Lusty Lindy” is the only complete example of the distinctive HP Victor remaining in the world and is kept in ground operational condition, by the hard work and enthusiasm of Andre and his team, with the museum’s support.

Ian Reed, museum director, said: “The spectacular arrival of the Victor at the Yorkshire Air Museum was a significant occasion, as the type had rarely been seen in the north, although XL231 had appeared on display at RAF Finningley for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Review of the RAF, in July 1977. It is fantastic that this aircraft found a home back in Yorkshire and Lusty Lindy is far from retired, as she regularly entertains thousands of visitors to the museum and has in fact become something of an icon, with a global fan base.”

XL231 first flew on December 28, 1961, and went into service with 139 Squadron in January 1962 in a conventional bomber role, but was upgraded to carry the Blue Steel weaponry, as part of the V-Bomber nuclear force.

She later saw action in the Falklands and in the Gulf War of 1990/91.