BBMF Needs You

After trying a couple of different emails I finally got hold of someone at the LLA, and then finally received a renewal notice. Was a little miffed though that it was a ‘You didn’t reply to our renewal reminder, so we’re removing you from our mailing list’ kind of letter, when I’d never heard from them in the first place! It may just have been a form letter, but given the circumstances, it was a little unprofessional. Ah well, a cheques in the post now and maybe by the time next year comes around they might finally be reliably in the 21st century!

Ah, the old BBMF name chestnut…the BBMF is a memorial flight to the whole RAF of WW2, named AFTER, and in the spirit OF, the Battle of Britain; the RAF’s greatest battle honour.

Say you had lots of different historic Navy ships sailing together in a fleet- you could name it The Trafalgar Memorial Fleet AFTER the most famous battle. Get it? The name isn’t literal.

All that said, I do think that the Dakota is too far out of the remit of the BBMF, but of course I understand it’s worth as a training and transport aircraft.

The issue I have with BBMF and LAA is that neither does what the names require.

Lancasters and Dakotas did not serve during the Battle of Britain but are a key part of the fleet, yet the Defiant, Gladiator and Beaufighter did and are not represented. The next aquisition has been suggested as a Mosquito, but they did not serve in the battle either.

Then why does the LAA support things other than the Lancaster ?

If we we were dealing with a business in the high street thet would be accused of misrepresentation. To me its like going to the Royal Opera House and finding the star is Madonna.

I support the idea of a Historic Aircraft Sqn., within the RAF with that squadron being realistically funded by the taxpayer (who can afford to fund failed athletes or Syrian rebels ) and that squadron having a Fighter Command Flight, a Bomber Command Flight, etc covering all the Commands that existed during the second world war. That way training could go Tiger Moth or Maggie, Harvard, Anson/Consul and postwar aircraft, like the Chipmunks, sold.

As has been mentioned and is already well known,the BBMF are paid for by the tax payer but lets not forget that they rely on a share from a rapidly shrinking pot ie the defence budget.
A prominent supporters club would be a sensible way to generate extra funds .

Pure speculation here , but I’m assuming this would be overseen by the PRO who has already done great work getting the BBMF involved with social media i.e. Twitter and Facebook .

“What other charity would give this much back? If this is something you would like to know more about please let us know.”

The inference in the news item is that the BBMF is a charity and that what they are proposing is separate to LLA. I wonder how long it will be before this is re-written?

I REALLY don’t mean this unkindly, but the LLA is fast becoming very out of date- there have been several repeated attempts to create websites/do things online etc, all of which come to nothing. Memberships are running several months out of date before renewal at the moment!

Exactly, I was more than happy to renew online as advertised but this facility wasn’t working when I went to renew at the end of June.
I subsequently ended up posting my renewal and have noticed the cheque was cashed a fortnight ago so I’m sure something will turn up eventually .

I have been a member of the LLA for many years. As has already been said it is run by volunteers and from what I have read in their magazine they have had problems with retaining people in some key posts.
I live 200 miles away so my visits are occasional but I still feel connected.
Updating the website and subscription system would I’m sure bring in more members benefiting the LLA and the BBMF.
mmitch.

Thanks for the info chaps. 🙂

Sorry ~Alan~ this may help http://www.lancaster-association.co.uk/

IMHO they’re still hugely relevant and to quote the last OC BBMF about the LLA fund raising efforts for TE311 (Spring 2012 LLA magazine)… “Your contribution to her resurrection has been nothing short of remarkable!”

LLA is the Lincs Lancs Ass. They are a civvy organisation who have supported BBMF for many years and bought a lot of stuff to bring the a/c up to a more authentic state as well as already mentioned funding a large percentage of returning TE311 to flight which wouldn’t have happened without them.

As with most organisations of this kind it is run by volunteers who give their time freely.

Please excuse my ignorance here, but I haven’t a clue what the LLA is.
(I don’t expect I am the only one)

I was under the impression that the BBMF was financed by the British
taxpayer, via the RAF ?

I REALLY don’t mean this unkindly, but the LLA is fast becoming very out of date- there have been several repeated attempts to create websites/do things online etc, all of which come to nothing. Memberships are running several months out of date before renewal at the moment!

…..The BBMF deserve a decent supporters club mirroring their professionalism.

What, to do amongst other things like raising £100k + that the LLA has contributed towards Spitfire TE311 in recent years?

The LLA have contributed much needed funds to the BBMF over the years,but in my brief experience with them, their admin is pretty poor.
I renewed my membership weeks ago complete with a donation over the membership fee and not received my card yet, had a similar experience last year with unacknowledged emails.
Contrast this with the Sally B Supporters Club which is brilliantly run throughout.
You are made to feel part of the set up and aware of how important your support is to ‘Sally B’s ‘ operation.

The BBMF deserve a decent supporters club mirroring their professionalism.

good point. ive emailed without thought of the LLA

I wonder if this would conflict or distract from the work of the LLA. I’m not sure if people would be a member of both if the benefits are both very similar.

Just a thought.

Peter