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Header image: BBMF Visitor Centre exhibition area with one-way system and ‘keep your distance’ markings (Photo: Clive Rowley)

The Royal Air Force and Lincolnshire County Council operate in partnership to allow visitors access to the BBMF hangar at RAF Coningsby on guided tours to see the Flight’s aircraft at close quarters. During the COVID-19 lockdown, the BBMF Visitor Centre was forced to close temporarily, in line with the Government measures to control the spread of coronavirus.

Header image: Hawker Hurricane Mk 1s of 85Sqn on patrol in 1940.

In the United Kingdom the Battle of Britain is officially recognised as having started 80 years ago on 10th July 1940.

Header image: Hurricane LF363 and Spitfire Mk IX MK356 break formation for a practice ‘synchro’ display at RAF Coningsby in late June (Photo: RAF Coningsby Photo Section Crown Copyright)

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the BBMF was restricted to flying only for currency. With Hurricane LF363 and three Spitfires available to fly, the four BBMF fighter pilots flew general handling sorties away from the airfield at Coningsby, once a week for the two full-time pilots, for whom this was their only flying, and fortnightly for the two volunteer fighter pilots. With all of the large air shows having been cancelled this year and the remaining events only possible later in the year, there was no urgent need to complete the normal BBMF pre-season work-up.