Battle of Britain Memorial Flight News

BBMF Winter Maintenance

The BBMF hangar in late September with winter maintenance about to begin. (Photo: Clive Rowley)

With limited flying by the fighter aircraft in 2024, the BBMF maintenance plan for the coming winter period is largely driven by calendar-based requirements and will be less onerous than for many years, with the aim of having the majority of the aircraft available to fly earlier in the new year.

Lancaster PA474 has flown extensively since being cleared to return to the skies at the end of July. Over the winter period the ‘Lanc’ will undergo a ‘Primary Star’ maintenance programme (a scheduled procedure that is not quite as deep as a ‘Minor’ maintenance). This normally takes four to five months to complete and during that period the No 1 engine, which is out of life and in need of refurbishment, will also be changed for a zero-hour Merlin.

BBMF Lancaster PA474 with maintenance underway in the Flight’s hangar. (Photo: Darren Harbar)

Hurricane Mk IIC PZ865 is already undergoing a ‘Minor Star’ maintenance although, due to the limited recent flying, this primarily involves only calendar-based items. PZ865 is expected to be available to fly again in March 2025.

Hurricane PZ865’s ‘Minor Star’ maintenance has already begun. (Photo: Clive Rowley)

Hurricane Mk II LF363, Spitfire IIa P7350 and Spitfire Mk XVI TE311 are due only some calendar-based maintenance and general anti-deterioration checks. All three of these fighters should also be available to fly in March.

Spitfire PR Mk XIX PM631 is now ready to fly, having completed a ‘Major’ maintenance programme conducted by the BBMF engineers in the Flight’s hangar at Coningsby. Meanwhile, the Flight’s second Spitfire PR Mk XIX, PS915, is undergoing an extended rebuild to flying condition.

Two of the BBMF aircraft, Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 and C-47 Dakota ZA947 have been away from Coningsby for ‘Major’ maintenance programmes under contract. Both are nearing completion and are expected to return home by the early New Year, with no further maintenance required this winter. The Dakota is expected to be flown regularly during the remainder of the ‘closed season’ for BBMF Bomber crew training and currency.

The BBMF aircraft fleet should, therefore, be in fine form and ready for an early start to the 2025 display season.

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