A MIGHTY Nimrod jet plane will be able to taxi down a runway near York this weekend after the Yorkshire Air Museum was leant a fire tender.

The museum at Elvington is staging its “Rolling Thunder” Day on Saturday to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the fly-in of the Nimrod MR2 XV250 on April 13, 2010, when it touched down for the last time to end its 40 years of RAF service.

A museum spokesman said Terberg DTS UK was carrying out a repair to the water jet of the museum's Pathfinder Airfield Fire Tender, which was used to provide the necessary fire cover for the fast jet taxi runs that this event featured.

"As it was not possible to complete this repair in time for the event, the company has come up trumps and is supplying a similar vehicle for our Fire Team to use.

"The vehicle they are providing is a six-wheel drive Carmichael Cobra Major Foam Vehicle, which, like the Pathfinder, is a full size airport fire truck."

The Nimrod will mark her anniversary with two full fast taxi runs down the 1.9 mile runway, with other aircraft starting proceedings in the morning with evocative engine starts, while in the afternoon, there will be a ceremony to unveil and dedicate a new memorial plaque to the Air Transport Auxiliary.

Admission from 10 am will cost £10 for adults, £8 concessions and £5 for children.