The Historic Aircraft Flight

The flight began on 11 July 1957 at RAF Biggin Hill as the Historic Aircraft Flight, with one Hurricane and three Spitfires kept flying when the last piston fighters left RAF service. It became the Battle of Britain Flight in 1969 and took its present name in 1973, when the Lancaster joined. Its stated mission is to keep these aircraft airworthy to commemorate those who have fallen, while promoting the modern RAF.

A moving home

The unit moved repeatedly in its first two decades: Biggin Hill to North Weald in 1958, then Martlesham Heath, Horsham St Faith and, from April 1963, Coltishall. It settled at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire in March 1976, where a visitor centre now offers tours. The crews are regular and reserve RAF aircrew who fly the historic aircraft alongside their main jobs, and the display season runs from May to September.

The fleet

Spitfire P7350, a Battle of Britain veteran, joined in November 1968; Hurricane PZ865 in March 1972; Avro Lancaster PA474, one of only two airworthy Lancasters in the world, in November 1973; and Douglas Dakota ZA947 in March 1993. Two Chipmunks, WG486 and WK518, are used for tailwheel training. Hurricane LF363 survived a crash at RAF Wittering on 11 September 1991, when a camshaft failure stopped its engine; it was rebuilt and flew again on 29 September 1998.

The 2024 loss

On 25 May 2024 Spitfire LF IXe MK356 crashed in a field just after take-off from Coningsby, killing Squadron Leader Mark Long. The flight was grounded. The Lancaster was cleared to fly again in mid-2024, but the Merlin-engined Spitfires and Hurricanes stayed on the ground until the RAF cleared them in March 2025. Reporting on the inquiry in October 2026 attributed the crash to debris in the carburettor that restricted fuel flow and cost the engine thrust.

Flying again

The fighters returned for the 2025 season, and the Dakota came back the same year in a new scheme after maintenance begun in 2022; Spitfire AB910 returned to flight in January 2026. The fleet now stands at five Spitfires, two Hurricanes, the Lancaster, the Dakota and two Chipmunks. The RAF notes that PA474 is one of only two airworthy Lancasters left in the world, and the flight still works under its motto, “Lest We Forget”.