The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) may never take to the skies again, aviation experts fear, after being grounded for over seven months following a fatal crash.
The historic fleet of Second World War aircraft, including Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Lancaster bomber, has been suspended from flying since May 2024, when Squadron Leader Mark Long was killed in a Spitfire crash in Lincolnshire.
The grounding prevented the aircraft from participating in several major summer events, including commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and King Charles III's 75th birthday celebrations.
In response to the incident, the RAF immediately announced a "temporary pause in flying".
The BBMF fleet, which was inaugurated in 1957 at RAF Biggin Hill, has been a staple of British summers for almost seven decades, honouring the RAF pilots who defended Britain against Hitler's Luftwaffe in 1940.
Experts fear a risk-averse culture at the Ministry of Defence could be behind the prolonged grounding.
Terry Holloway, a retired RAF group captain and former BBMF engineering officer, told Mail Online: "It worries me that the aircraft in the fleet have been grounded for a long time.
"It worries me that the Ministry of Defence, like a lot of society today, is highly risk-averse, and they might be saying to themselves, 'What's the cost, what's the benefit of operating these aircraft to us?'
"If they perceive there might be a risk and the risk might be bad publicity from aircraft crashing a civilian location or in a town [then], in a risk-averse environment, there is a possibility that the future of the BBMF is in doubt."
Second World War historian James Holland called the grounding "a massive overreaction," noting that "you're still more likely to be run over by a bus than you are to come down in a Spitfire."
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The Defence Accident Investigation Branch investigation into Squadron Leader Long's death remains ongoing, with findings yet to be released.
Findings of the investigation will only be made public once Long's family, ministers and RAF leadership are informed.
A spokesman for the Flight Safety Foundation supported the cautious approach, stating: "With a small fleet of ageing aircraft it is prudent to take a cautious approach to continued operation of the aircraft after a fatal accident."
The BBMF's £5million annual operating costs could also influence decisions about the fleet's future, according to Holloway.
"One or two people are speculating that, with the MoD short of cash, struggling with finances, there's a real question, do they want to keep the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at all, if it's an expensive overhead that they can ill afford?" he said.
Back in October, a BBMF Spitfire completed a test flight having been grounded since 2021 which the RAF described as "an important step in the graduated return to flying for the BBMF aircraft."
In addition, the fleet's Lancaster has also been cleared to fly following maintenance and will receive a rebuilt Merlin engine over winter.
Despite the RAF announcement that most aircraft are expected to be ready by March 2025, experts note that being ready doesn't guarantee a return to service.
Should the BBMF not return to service, civilian organisations have been tipped to maintain the tradition.
Companies like Kent-based Aero Legends and Air Leasing Ltd, which already offer vintage aircraft experiences, possess significant technical expertise.
Terry Holloway remains optimistic: "I'm very enthusiastic that the BBMF continues to fly, whether in military or civilian hands.
"If the MoD decides they don't want to continue with it, then let's get it in the hands of somebody who will maintain the heritage."
GB News has approached the MoD for comment.
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