Learning to fly the Lancaster: BBMF pilot insights 

Flight Lieutenant Seb Davey joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as a Dakota captain and Lancaster co-pilot for the 2013 season. 

Seb Davey was just home from the last working day before the Christmas 2012 holiday when his phone rang.  It was Squadron Leader Dunc Mason, Officer Commanding (OC) Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), calling with an early Christmas gift.

Seb remembers the conversation: “‘Evening, Seb.  How’s your day going, because it’s about to get better.’  At this point I was trying not to jump around the house and scream with excitement.”

A tactical flight instructor on the Lockheed Martin C-130J with 47 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, Flt Lt Davey was now going to become one of the select few BBMF Douglas Dakota and Avro Lancaster pilots.  The call from the boss marked the end of a selection process that included detailed analysis of Seb’s flying career, a formal interview – and a curry.

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