RAF returns historic Hurricane and Spitfire warbirds to airshow flying duties

Coming as welcome news to aviation enthusiasts worldwide, the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) has announced that it will be returning its small fleet of vintage Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes to airshow flying duties in 2025. Both types powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines have been grounded by the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) division since May 2024, following an accident involving one of its Spitfires in which the pilot, Squadron Leader Mark Long was tragically killed.

Making the announcement via its social media channels on March 14, 2025, the RAF said that it would be resuming operations of all its aircraft again during the 2025 European air show display season. The BBMF unit, based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, Eastern England operates five Spitfires and two Hurricanes, alongside a single Lancaster bomber (one of only two airworthy examples worldwide) and a Douglas DC-3 Dakota transport aircraft. All fleet members are flown by crew drawn from active RAF squadrons.

Robert McAlpine / ShutterstockWhile its Merlin-powered Avro Lancaster bomber was cleared to fly again in July 2024 following an initial investigation by the RAF into the Spitfire accident, the reintroduction of the Spitfires and Hurricanes was postponed while other internal investigations were completed.

As reported by the AVweb publication, a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said,  “We can confirm that the RAF has cleared Merlin powered Hurricane and Spitfires to return to flying for the 2025 season. Whilst the investigation into the fatal accident involving a Spitfire Mk IX on May 25, 2024, continues, all available evidence has been considered in making the decision to return to flying.”

In a Facebook post, the BBMF added, “We look forward to seeing you around the country and having a great display season [in 2025] celebrating the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, and 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day.”

C-S / ShutterstockThe cause of the crash involving Squadron Leader Long’s Spitfire which carried the squadron markings MK356 continues to be investigated by the UK Government’s Defence Accident Investigation Branch. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from RAF Coningsby into a field while heading to perform at a local air show. Long died at the scene from head and neck injuries caused by the aircraft impacting the ground. The aircraft was substantially damaged as a result of the accident.

The Rolls-Royce Merlin was a liquid-cooled, V12 piston engine that powered some of the most famous allied aircraft that operated during the Second World War, including the Spitfire, Hurricane, and the Lancaster. Designed to power the iconic Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane designed by RJ Mitchell, the aircraft played a crucial role in the Battle of Britain and became a symbol of British engineering excellence of its generation.

Steve Walker Photography / ShutterstockWhile the BBMF Spitfires and Hurricanes were grounded following the fatal crash, the numerous privately owned aircraft of these two types were unaffected by the grounding and continued to appear at airshows for the remainder of the 2024 season. Indeed, specially adapted two-seat Spitfires and Hurricanes based in the UK continued to offer experience flights for the rest of 2024, with prices starting at around £3.000 ($3,800) for a 30-minute flight in one of the legendary fighter aircraft.

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