A HAMPSHIRE woman who became British Airways' first female pilot is making history again by being the first to fly into Heathrow's new Terminal 5.

Captain Lynn Barton will pilot flight BA026 from Hong Kong which will be the first plane to fly into the airline's new £4.3bn home tomorrow morning.

Lynn, 51, from Alton, was on holiday in Barbados last month when she decided to apply for the historic flight.

She said: "It was my husband's idea to bid for the flight, but the timing meant I had to tear myself off the beach and find a computer so that I could apply through the airline's flight-bidding system.

"I never thought I'd be in with a chance of actually getting the flight. I found out when I got back from my holiday and was absolutely thrilled. Terminal 5 has been the focus of the airline's future for several years now, and to operate the very first flight is a huge honour. I can't wait."

Lynn became British Airways' first female pilot in 1987 when she joined the Boeing 747 fleet.

Eight years earlier, she had been the first woman to be sponsored by the airline for her commercial pilot's training at Hamble.

She said: "I never thought of being anything other than a pilot when I was growing up. I had my very first flying lesson at the age of 16.''