Crashed pilot would be 'extremely proud' of legacy

The best friend of a pilot who died in a Spitfire crash says he would be "extremely proud" of his legacy.

Sqn Ldr Mark Long was killed when a spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby in 2024.

The Mark Long Trust was set up to provide flying scholarships to people who would not normally have access to lessons.

Long's friend James Calvert said: "We were extremely privileged to have known him and to have a trust and charity that is doing such wonderful good."

This year the trust is paying for two people to have the opportunity with the charity Flying Scholarships for Disabled People.

Layth Abdulla, 49, benefitted from previous funding from the charity.

He was paralysed from the waist down in a cycling accident, but said it was a "real luxury" to receive flight training.

"But I got so much more from it than that," he added.

"I came away from the experience having gained a lot of self-confidence and belief that I could do so much more than I had since my accident."

Abdulla said he had since learned to sit-ski and been on a solo holiday to Australia.

"The confidence I had to do those things came from the scholarship programme," he said.

Gp Capt James Calvert trained and worked alongside Long for over 20 years.

He said Long "was just one of the most kind, generous people you could ever wish to meet".

Calvert said it was a pleasure to be "surrounded by people who are achieving things that they never thought possible, it's just, it's infectious, the happiness and the gratitude."

He added, "it's just magical."

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