SPITFIRES are set to fly high above the skies of Vivary Park on Somerset Armed Forces Day.
Weather permitting, the special display will be undertaken by the Royal Air Force’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight team.
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The flight team operate five Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster, a C47 Dakota, and two Chipmunk aircraft (primarily for training), all of which aircraft are flown by regular RAF aircrew.
The flypast is a popular feature of the event, which often takes place in the afternoon depending on visibility conditions and safety checks.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight exists to maintain the priceless artefacts of national heritage in airworthy condition to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of this country.
The aircraft can be regularly seen in the skies over the UK from May to September each year. They are flown to celebrate and commemorate public and military events from State occasions such as Trooping the Colour to major air shows and flypasts for public events.
It was in July 1957 that the concept of flying the historic aircraft was inaugurated at RAF Biggin Hill.
It was initially called the RAF Historic Aircraft Flight and consisted of three PR Mk XIX Spitfires and the RAF’s last airworthy Hurricane, LF363. It was then renamed to be the Battle of Britain Flight, before a final renaming in 1969 to what it is known as today, BBMF.
The flight’s most recognisable aircraft – the Supermarine Spitfire – were critical in defeating Luftwaffe air attacks during the Battle of Britain in 1940. More Spitfires were built than any other British combat aircraft before or since World War Two – 20,341 in total.
The Hawker Hurricane also played a vital role in the Battle of Britain, and there are only twelve left in the world. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight operates two of these historically important aircraft.
The team also have the Douglas C47 Dakota, which is one of the most successful military transport aircraft designs in history and was widely used by the Allies during World War Two. The infamous Avro “Lancaster” Bomber is also part of the display and is one of just two remaining aircraft in the world.
To keep up to date with the exact timings of the flypast, look out for updates on Somerset Armed Forces Day’s Facebook page and website:
www.somersetarmedforcesday.com
