By DrSoda 
Latest news out, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight have released the scheduled winter maintenance for their aircraft in preparation for next years display season and the long term flying status of the Aircraft.
AVRO Lancaster PA474
PA474 has made her flight down to the Aircraft Restoration Company (ARCo), based out of IWM Duxford, on the 30th October. She will be undertaking her planned major maintenance which is scheduled to take somewhere in the region of 18 months to complete. The works will allow the now, 80 year old British bomber, to continue flying and remembering all those who lost their lives serving in RAF Bomber Command.
PA474 will return with a new paint scheme, representing IX Squadron Lancaster “Getting Younger Every Day” These Markings were worn by LM220 during 1944 – 1945, based out of RAF Bardney in Lincolnshire. She was allocated the code letters ‘WS-Y’ which were highlighted in yellow. The bearded figure making up the nose art was based on William Younger’s Brewery in Edinburgh, Scotland after the crew borrowed a tray from their favourite pub with this logo on.
Hawker Hurricane LF363
LF363 is having Primary Star and Penalty maintenance over the winter at RAF Coningsby. This will allow her additional hours for next years display season before her Minor Star overhaul. Primary star maintenance keeps the aircraft airworthy but is less intrusive compared to Minor Star and even Major Star maintenance. This is due to take up to 5 months and should be complete before the start of the display season in May and ready for the new BBMF Pilots to start gaining currency.
Hawker Hurricane PZ865
Flying less hours than LF363 in the 2025 display season, PZ865 only requires calendar maintenance which are normal monthly checks and cleaning of filters to ensure the aircraft remains airworthy.
Supermarine Spitfire IIa P7350
P7350 also had a busy year and like LF363 will be under taking Primary Start and Pentalty Maintenance to make sure she is ready and roaring for the 2026 display season.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk VB AB910
AB910 is due to return back from her major maintenance program in the coming weeks. She has been with the Spitfire Company based out of Biggin Hill. She’s undergone having a new ‘Frame 5’ fitted as well as extensive work on her tail section, a new fuel tank and new wing skin panels.
AB910 will return in a new paint scheme representing 402 (City of Winnipeg) Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force and will appear exactly as she did on the 6th June, 1944 for the D-Day Landings.
Her return will be most welcome around the UK but especially the visitor centre who will be able to tell the incredible story of Margaret Horton accidentally being taken for flight on this exact aircraft.
Supermarine Spitfire XVI TE311
TE311 requires minor maintenance this winter, however the amount of work could be described as not being minor. The plan is to have her up and running again for the 2026 display season as long as everything goes well.
Supermarine Spitfire PR XIX PM631
PM631 has flown a full display season this year and it;s been fantastic having a griffon powered BBMF aircraft in the skies once again. She is now due to fly off over the next couple of weeks to have a maintenance package carried out away from Coningsby, which includes repairs to her ‘Frame 5’, Primary Star maintenance and anything else that might crop up along the way.
Details of where and for how long this maintenance will take have so far not been published.
Supermarine Spitfire PR XIX PS915
Not much has been seen or heard of from PS915 over the last few years, however, good news has cometh our way. Having been in a dismantaled state in the BBMF Hangar for the past 7 years, she has now ticked over to requiring Major maintenance on her airframe. However, the BBMF have also confirmed along with this major maintenance will also come the reassembling of PS915 to flight. It isn’t sure how long this process will take, but it’s good to see it’s moving in the right direction to get another Griffon powered Spitfire back into the air.
Douglas Dakota ZA947
Although she has only just come back from her longer than expected major maintenance program, ZA947 has some calendar items that are due to be looked at and resolved, ready for flying in January for BBMF aircrew training and currency.