Airshows hit as war planes are grounded

More than half of the airworthy Second World War-era planes flown by the Royal Air Force (RAF) have been grounded over engine-related safety fears.

Aircraft operated by the RAF’S Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) were scheduled to fly at the Biggin Hill Festival of Flight, near Bromley in south-east London, and the Eastbourne International Airshow in East Sussex.

But BBMF’S Lancaster bomber, four Spitfires and two Hurricanes will not fly until they have been checked after a fault was found with the engine of one of the Hurricanes.

A public display at the Weymouth Carnival on Wednesday was cancelled after the fault was discovered and yesterday’s performance in Eastbourne has also been pulled.

Based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, the BBMF keeps six Spitfires, two Hurricane Mk 2Cs, a Lancaster, a C47 Dakota and two Chipmunks preserved in airworthy condition. They are some of the last Second World War planes to still fly today.