BBMF Visit at Coningsby

I had a day off due to aircraft unserviceability, so I took the chance to go to RAF Coningsby which is home to several Typhoon squadrons, but also the BBMF Visitors' Centre.

We were shown round the aircraft of the BBMF by an ex-RAF Navigator who told us some fascinating stories about all of the aircraft. He had been a Navigator on F4s and GR4s in the RAF and made the visit really interesting. It was a brilliant visit.

It's astonishing to think that these aircraft are over 80 years old, but are absolutely immaculate.

The only surviving Spitfire that fought in the Battle of Britain is here - it was saved by a canny scrap merchant who was offered 10 Spitfires in crates at the end of the war for the princely sum of.... wait for it... £250!!!

£250 for 10 brand new Spitfires - they're about £2.5 million each now!

He noticed from the aircraft log book that one of them had flown in the Battle of Britain, and offered it back to the RAF. I guess the other 9 were scrapped! If only he'd stuck them in the back of a barn somewhere!

Sigh :-(