CI Andy Jones of 163 (Coventry Phoenix) Squadron is celebrating his bargain of the century. He has snapped up a Maglev carriage for just £100.00 after a previous e-Bay bidder failed to pay their £25,100 bid. So, the train that took the strain for holidaymakers lugging cases from Birmingham Airport , now stands in retirement in a Kenilworth field.

The airport opened the Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) line to Birmingham International rail station in 1984. Suspended above the track using electromagnetic force, the train was way ahead of the green revolution, but it came unstuck by 1995 when it was deemed unreliable. For many passengers though, who recall the silent aerial ride, the Maglev was a welcome relief from hauling cases through terminals.

Mr Jones is an ex-engineer in the Royal Air Force and Rolls Royce, and says he used to be a frequent flyer from Birmingham Airport and remembers riding on the Maglev. He says, "As a British invention of its day I thought it was absolutely tremendous. It was the forefront of its technology and a high speed Maglev has just been opened up in Shanghai which I think is a direct development of what took place in the old days. I just thought it would be a shame to see it go. I thought I would get things going by putting in an opening bid of £100, but nobody else bid for it. I thought I would just start the bidding, but I had no idea that I would end up getting it. I had watched the earlier bid, out of interest and I just wanted to get the ball rolling. We have offered it to various museums since we bought it, but nobody has been able to accommodate it. As a consequence I've got a five tonne train in the field opposite my house and I've now got to find a suitable use for it.''

When the original bids on an eBay auction closed, in November 2010, the price had reached £25,100 and had attracted 32 other bids, but when the buyer did not come up with the cash it was re listed and only attracted Andy's one bid of £100.00.

He says overall the Maglev is in "pretty good" condition but now has plans to restore and refurbish it. The cadets of 163 Squadron are hoping that it will make an interesting project for them.

Mr Jones's bargain has bought him wide spread publicity with many newspapers and midlands news covering his story.