Battle of Britain Memorial Flight 2026: RAF aircraft to fly over Yorkshire coast towns as part of airshow events this summer
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft are set to fly over these Yorkshire coast towns this summer - here is everything we know so far.
Aircraft displays, organised by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, run from May to September every year with pre-season test flying for the crews taking place during April.
Flying displays are subject to weather conditions and the serviceability of the aircraft and as well as full displays, the aircraft will also conduct up to 900 flypasts every year to ‘make the most of the flying hours and transits to and from display locations’.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) operates from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
It was established on July 11, 1957 at RAF Briggin Hill and was originally called the RAF Historic Aircraft Flight, consisting of three PR Mk XIX Spitfires and the RAF’s last airworthy Hurricane, LF363. It was renamed to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in 1969.
Its goal is to preserve the artefacts of its national heritage in order to honour those who have fallen in the service of this country.
There are five Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster, a C47 Dakota, and two Chipmunk aircraft (mainly for training purposes).
The first Yorkshire-based flypast will take place in Scarborough for Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
The other Yorkshire-based flypast will take place in Withernsea for the Blue Light Weekend on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
The type of aircraft and timings haven’t been confirmed yet.