McGregor to fly through 'Star Wars valley'

Film star Ewan McGregor was today due to have a white-knuckle ride as a passenger in a supersonic jet fighter at speeds of up to 620mph.

McGregor was today expected to fly from RAF Lossiemouth, Moray, with his brother Colin, 32, an RAF Flight Lieutenant, on a whistlestop tour to support terminally-ill children.

The 30-year-old actor, from Crieff, Perthshire, was due to include a fly-past in the RAF Tornado at 500ft above the Children’s Hospice, Rachel House at Kinross in Perthshire.

And, weather permitting, the man who played Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, was expected to fly down Glen Tilt in Perthshire - known to all fast jet aircrew as ‘‘Star Wars Valley’’.

The one-hour flight has been organised by XV Squadron, based at Lossiemouth.

Crew and staff at the base have raised a four-figure sum for the hospice and hope to reach £20,000 by the end of the air display season in October.

McGregor is an ardent supporter of the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).