RAF clears Tunnock's tea cakes for flying after six decades of bans

In 1965, Tunnock's tea cakes were allegedly banned from RAF flights due to a reported incident where an unwrapped treat caused a mess in a bomber cockpit during a training flight. This incident occurred when a captain and student pilot unknowingly placed the snacks above their instrument panels. When the captain activated an emergency depressurising switch, the pressure drop led to the tea cakes erupting, resulting in a sticky chaos throughout the cockpit. After a prolonged ban lasting sixty years, the RAF Centre of Aerospace Medicine conducted experiments to test the validity of the explosive claims surrounding Tunnock's tea cakes. Engineers used an altitude chamber designed for new pilot training to simulate flight conditions. The tea cakes were taken to a height of 8,000 feet and subsequently rapidly decompressed to 25,000 feet in just three seconds. This rigorous testing revealed that although the chocolate casing cracked during the decompression process, they did not explode as previously thought. The tests not only debunked the longstanding myth of exploding tea cakes but also provided helpful recommendations for RAF pilots wishing to bring them onboard. One suggestion was to store the snacks frozen and in their original foil wrapping until consumption to ensure safety during flights. This finding was reported by the British Forces Broadcasting Service, confirming that the marshmallow treats posed no risk to in-flight safety. Tunnock's, a snack manufacturer based in Uddingston, Scotland, has seen the return of their coffee cakes and tea cakes to RAF cockpits, marking a significant change in policy after decades of being banned. The RAF's new stance reflects advancements in understanding and technology, making it possible for pilots to enjoy these iconic snacks once again while flying.