THE RAF BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT IS PREPARING FOR A VERY IMPORTANT CENTENARY YEAR. CHRIS GILSON DISCOVERS THAT THERE’S MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
WARBIRDS BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT
With the airshow season rapidly approaching, the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) will be raring to go when it reaches the end of its winter maintenance programme at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. The squadron has also welcomed a new pilot, with the addition of Sqn Ldr Mark ‘Suggs’ Sugden, who has previously flown the Panavia Tornado F.3, and instructed on both the BAe Hawk and Eurofighter Typhoon.
Suggs is currently being put through his paces on the flight’s rigorous training programme by current Commanding Officer Sqn Ldr Andy ‘Milli’ Millikin, who will be stepping down from the role at the end of this year’s flying season. He will be replaced by Sqn Ldr Mark ‘Disco’ Discombe AFC, who in turn will be succeeded by Sqn Ldr Sugden in 2021.
During our visit in February we noticed that Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI TE311 was not on show. It drew particular attention during last year’s flying displays when it appeared in unmarked black undercoat. It has recently been repainted into the colours of Polish a…
