When it comes to iconic movie and TV cars, few are as instantly recognisable or as universally mocked as the grubby, yellow three-wheeler from the British sitcom Only Fools and Horses. The Reliant Robin, emblazoned with “Trotters Independent Traders,” is a symbol of dodgy deals and plucky, if misguided, ambition. But in a stunt that even Del Boy himself would call “cushty,” a replica of this very van has done something truly unbelievable: it flew across the English Channel.
This wasn’t a wind-up. A team of paramotor enthusiasts, led by organiser David Messenger, 56, pulled off a “lovely jubbly job” by sending the shell of the famous three-wheeler on a flight from Calais, France, to Dover, England. The incredible spectacle was the lead aircraft in a 47-strong formation, marking what David called “the largest formation of aircraft since WW2,” all to raise money and awareness for the Veterans Charity.
A Flying Scheme for a Worthy Cause
The audacious plan was hatched over a BBQ just two months before the flight. David Messenger, from Cambridgeshire, decided to organise the mass flyover to support UK veterans dealing with the aftermath of war.” There are a number of ex-forces and veterans within the group and we had a couple of veterans flying with us, but the majority are sons, daughters, and grandsons of the veterans,” David explained. The goal was to honour the country’s heroes and raise vital funds for The Veterans Charity, which provides direct support to those in need. The effort clearly captured the public’s imagination, raising around £5,000 even before all company sponsorship payments were collected.
Building the Flying Trotter
The star of the show, the flying Reliant Robin, was the brainchild of David and his friend Bobby Frankham, 59.Using the shell of an original Reliant Robin, the pair spent a couple of months adapting it for flight.” My mate and I built the Reliant Robin – our wives think we’re mentally insane but we both like the Reliant Robin,” David said.” It’s just a funny thing – it’s a stupid car and we just started building them!” They attached an adapted paramotor engine to the back of the car’s shell. A paramotor, also known as a powered paraglider, is a motorised harness worn by a pilot that provides thrust to a paraglider wing, allowing for powered flight. For this project, the motor provided the push, and the paragliding wing provided the lift, with Bobby Frankham bravely taking the pilot’s seat, or “driver’s seat,” for the cross-channel trip. David joked, “It’s even more hilarious that so many big companies have put millions into a flying car, and we’ve done it!”
From Calais to Dover: The Flight of the Robin
On the day of the flight, the bright yellow van wobbled “sketchily” as it took off from Saint-Inglevert, France, a sight that perfectly matched the chaotic energy of its on-screen inspiration. Once airborne, it led the formation of 46 other paramotors across the water, at one point even appearing to race a passenger ferry below. The entire operation was a significant logistical undertaking. The group included nine Belgian pilots, highlighting the international support for the cause. Safety was paramount, with incredible support from the coast guard. “I can not stress how brilliant our coast guard was,” David noted, explaining they also had a dedicated rescue boat on standby. The meticulous planning paid off, though not without minor setbacks. Three pilots couldn’t fly due to contaminated fuel, and another had to turn back after his machine started misfiring near the coast, a decision praised by David as “the right thing.” The result was a stunning success, leaving everyone involved on an “amazing high.”A s David put it, “to launch that many pilots in one go, is just unheard of.”
This bonkers yet brilliant fusion of British eccentricity, engineering ingenuity, and heartfelt charity proves that sometimes, the most outlandish ideas are the ones that truly soar. This time next year, they might not be millionaires, but they’ll forever be the legends who made a Reliant Robin fly.
