Crowds to hear roar of Lancaster as Battle of Britain Memorial Flight begins 2025 season

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is preparing for a packed summer of displays, bringing historic wartime aircraft to the skies as part of its 2025 season.​

The official calendar, published by the RAF, confirms the BBMF will appear at more than 30 events between May and October – including the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show in September, which will mark the 85th anniversary of the battle. ​

The BBMF, based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, maintains and flies a fleet of aircraft from the Second World War, including the Avro Lancaster, Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and Douglas Dakota, plus two post-war de Havilland Chipmunks.

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They will take part in flypasts and full displays at locations including the Midlands Air Festival, the English Riviera Airshow and the Clacton Airshow.

Notable events also include the Abingdon Air and Country Show on 14 June and Portsmouth Armed Forces Day on 21 June.

The season's highlight is set to be the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show on 6 and 7 September, commemorating the 85th anniversary of the battle.

This event offers a unique opportunity to witness the BBMF's aircraft in action, alongside other historic and contemporary aircraft.​

Maintenance of the aircraft is carried out by a dedicated team of engineers and technicians, with aircrew drawn from serving personnel across the RAF.

All pilots undergo extensive training to fly the vintage aircraft safely. ​

The BBMF was formed in 1957 to keep the memory of RAF operations in the Second World War alive, and has since become a regular sight at national commemorations, including Trooping the Colour and Remembrance events. ​

In May 2024, a tragic Spitfire crash resulted in the grounding of the BBMF fleet.

Squadron Leader Mark Long, a highly experienced RAF pilot, was killed when the Spitfire Mk IXe MK356 he was flying crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

However, as of April 2025, the BBMF resumed operations for the display season.

This is a full list of confirmed dates for 2025:

30 May – Midlands Air Festival

31 May – Midlands Air Festival

31 May – English Riviera Airshow

1 June – Midlands Air Festival

1 June – English Riviera Airshow

8 June – RAF Cosford Airshow

14 June – Abingdon Air and Country Show

21 June – Portsmouth Armed Forces Day

21 June – Lancaster and Morecambe Armed Forces Day

21 June – Northern Ireland Armed Forces Day

21 June – Bognor Armed Forces Day

21 June – Duxford Summer Airshow

22 June – Duxford Summer Airshow

28 June – Scarborough Armed Forces Day

28 June – Wales National Armed Forces Day

28 June – Cleethorpes Armed Forces Weekend

28 June – Shuttleworth Festival of Flight

28 June – Headcorn Battle of Britain Airshow

29 June – Cleethorpes Armed Forces Weekend

29 June – Shuttleworth Festival of Flight

29 June – Headcorn Battle of Britain Airshow

5 July – Welsh National Airshow

6 July – Welsh National Airshow

12 July – Wallop Wheels and Wings

18 July – Royal International Air Tattoo

19 July – Royal International Air Tattoo

20 July – Royal International Air Tattoo

26 July – Shuttleworth Summer Airshow

26 July – Old Buckenham Airshow

27 July – Old Buckenham Airshow

9 August – Blackpool Airshow

9 August – Whitby Regatta

10 August – Blackpool Airshow

10 August – Whitby Regatta

14 August – Eastbourne International Airshow

15 August – Eastbourne International Airshow

16 August – Eastbourne International Airshow

16 August – Shuttleworth Flying Proms

17 August – Eastbourne International Airshow

20 August – Cromer Carnival

21 August – Clacton Airshow

22 August – Clacton Airshow

23 August – Somme Aerien International

24 August – Somme Aerien International

25 August – Props & Pistons – East Kirkby

30 August – Southport Airshow

31 August – Southport Airshow

5 September – International Ayr Show Festival of Flight

6 September – International Ayr Show Festival of Flight

6 September – Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow

6 September – Highclere VE 80th Heroes History Festival

7 September – Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow

7 September – Highclere 'VE 80th Heroes' History Festival

10 September – Guernsey Battle of Britain Air Display

11 September – Jersey International Air Display

13 September – Icons of the Sky

13 September – Sanicole Airshow

14 September – Icons of the Sky

14 September – Sanicole Airshow

20 September – Bradwell Airshow

27 September – BBMF Members Day

4 October – Duxford Season Finale

5 October – Shuttleworth Race Day