For the first time since the the accident in May, two BBMF Spitfires are scheduled to perform a display, which will take place at at RAF Halton on Wednesday, It is thought that these might be the two Griffon-engined examples, as the Merlin variants remain under investigation.
”Spitfire aircraft return to the skies above Buckinghamshire tomorrow. A flypast containing a pair of Spitfires from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is expected over RAF Halton at 1.30pm tomorrow afternoon.
This is the first time in a while that we have seen these aircraft after an accident earlier this year. If you’re in the area tomorrow, well worth seeing this. Weather depending.” The Chiltern Weather Alerts fb page.
NOTAM is as follows-
BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT FLYPAST WI 1NM RADIUS: 514639N 0004315W (VCY HALTON AD). FOR OPERATIONAL CALLS ONLY CTC 01526 347716. AR-2024-7446/AU2.
LOWER: Surface, UPPER: 2,900 Feet AMSL
FROM: 30 Oct 2024 13:15 GMT TO: 30 Oct 2024 13:45 GMT
By: hypersonic - 31st October 2024 at 10:13
Yesterday’s planed flypast was possibly associated with a passing out parade (graduation parade). There is a further Spitfire flypast due to take place tomorrow at the National Memorial Arboretum between 10.48 and 11.18.
You shouldn’t read too much into the Merlin engine being the only issue that has grounded the Flight this season. The CAA didn’t ground the civilian Merlin powered Hurricanes and Spitfires for example.
Next month (Nov) will see the Coroners Report and the MAA Accident Report issued – possibly at the same time.
I’m privy to some information – which I can’t speak about here, and now, and especially not via this medium. But Mark lost his life in a set of unusual circumstances.
This month he was due to take-over as the new Boss of the Flight. He was on short finals of a very extensive training programme. His loss would have generated a management gap. As an example, his replacement (in normal planning) was identified in Oct 23 as Sqn Ldr Simon Jessett. Simon was to be the Boss for the 2028 – 2030 seasons – five years of training! Simon’s training would have/has been heavily impacted by Mark’s untimely death and the subsequent grounding.
Another area not very well known about is the BBMF Project Team. They are headed up by an RAF Group Captain Engineer or Civil Service equivalent. The team consists of Licenced engineering decision makers (amongst other things) the so-called Engineering Authority (EA) staff. This small desk-based team would have been involved in the investigations along with their day job(s). Additionally, issues with the Dakota whilst undergoing maintenance in industry, extensive work on the Lancaster and Fr 5 issues with Spitfire PS915. The latter has been on the ground since Jul 18 and has had to be repaired with limited access to drawings. In the near future Spitfire PM631 is due to go to Biggin Hill for the same repair.
In a former life I was an EA, on a different Project Team, I know how demanding your time can be. Those guys were/are incredibly busy. With airworthiness being behind every decision you make and sign up to. The latter being literal.
H
By: Prop Strike - 30th October 2024 at 21:06
No show, I am afraid. Weather was not clement today.
By: Jaguar34 - 30th October 2024 at 07:42
It’s only one, (griffon – powered) Spitfire XIX PM631.
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October 29, 2024 at 9:27 pm