WARBIRDS BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT
From right
Despite its stripped-down condition, PR.XIX PM631 is scheduled to return to fl ying
condition again soon. It is nearing the end of a major overhaul, and last fl ew during
2014’s display season. The stylish Spitfi re will be a welcome return to the Flight, and
will complement ‘sister’ photo-reconnaissance PR.XIX, PS915. Built in 1945, PM631 is
the BBMF’s longest-serving aircraft.The Far East theatre colours of Hawker Hurricane IIC PZ865 – otherwise known as
‘The Last of the Many’ – make it stand out from its BBMF stablemates. Its status as
the last Hurricane built of 14,583 gives it added signifi cance on the display ‘circuit’.In its striking desert colours, Spitfi re LF.IXe MK356 is currently undergoing an
engine overhaul, and should return to the air later this year.As a tribute to two living pilots who fl ew in the Battle of Britain – Gp Capt Tom Neil,
and Wg Cdr Paul Farnes – Hawker Hurricane IIC LF363 featured different schemes
on each side during the 2017 season. The port fuselage (shown here), represented
Neil’s Hurricane ‘GN-F’, when he fl ew with 249 Squadron, while the starboard
displayed ‘SD-A’, fl own by Farnes with 501 Squadron.128 FLYPAST May 2018