Spitfire Crashes near RAF Coningsby

[rochie]

Spitfire crashes in field near RAF Coningsby

Emergency services are at the scene of the crash near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

www.bbc.co.uk

i think it may have been a BBMF Spitfire , that is painted in desert colours

details are scarce at the minute

 

[Engineman]

Unfortunately, that doesn't look good. Hope for good news on pilot.

Eng

 

[Wurger]

 

[Jeff Hunt]

RAF has confirmed the crash has taken the life of the pilot.

Jeff

 

[at6]

Sad news. The loss of the pilot and the plane.

 

[Engineman]

Condolences to the pilots family and friends.

Eng

 

[stona]

Looks like MK356, operated by the BBMF.

There will be a military investigation rather than one by the AAIB.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

RAF has confirmed the crash has taken the life of the pilot.

Jeff

RiP

 

[Airframes]

Very shocking and sad news. Condolences to the family and BBMF members.

 

[Snautzer01]

My heart hurts. It does.

Feel raw and wounded.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Ah man... RIP

 

[MIflyer]

Terrible thing. And it brings to mind that statement by the man who owned the "junkyard" where the XP-82 was found. With tears in his eyes he said, "I don't want these airplanes to be restored! Because if they restore them they will fly them and if they fly them they will crash them!" And sadly enough, too often that is all too true. How much flying them is too much?

 

[MiTasol]

Properly maintained they are safe but the question is what aging aircraft maintenance programme exists for Spitfires and other older aircraft.

Commercial airliners have aging aircraft programmes and so do some light aircraft like the Aero Commander twins but with warbirds, in general, it is an unknown.

One now deceased, of old age, warbird owner here had a large collection on loan to the RAAF museum at Pt Cook and, when the AOC changed in the late 70s, he was virtually told allow RAAF pilots to fly them or take them away. He took them away.

Several years earlier when asked by the then AOC why no RAAF pilots were flying any of his aircraft he replied that airline pilots are trained to get the aircraft and contents on the ground safely and military pilots were trained to jump out and no one in the RAAF gives a **** if it crashes into houses or people. His pilots were all high time airline pilots with lots of DC-3 hours in their log books. The Wing Commander agreed that the RAAF priority was the crew and only the crew and had no high time tail dragger pilots left.

On the positive side the Beaufort restoration in Caboolture has recently changed a spar cap on one wing panel because NDT found corrosion in it. On the down side when it flys finding a pilot who is current on heavy tail dragging twins almost limits the selection to active DC-3 pilots and they are getting thin on the ground as well.

 

[Micdrow]

Just read the article online, very sad and condolences to the family.

 

[MIflyer]

Commercial airliners have aging aircraft programmes and so do some light aircraft like the Aero Commander twins but with warbirds, in general, it is an unknown.

True, and it is even worse than that. Warbirds generally are not certified airplanes and often there is no Service Bulletin or Airworthiness Directive support. When Harrison Ford crashed his PT-22 they concluded that the carburetor essentially had fallen apart and there was nothing anyone could have done. So who knows those carbs can do that and ensures they are dismantled and examined or even overhauled at appropriate intervals? I have no doubt that Mr. Ford would gladly have paid to have that done, every year if required, but someone would have had to tell him to do that and know how to get it done. Even certified light aircraft have not only repair and overhaul standards but also updating programs.

 

[Airframes]

Note that this particular Spitfire was part of the BBMF fleet, part of the Royal Air Force.
All aircraft of the BBMF are inspected, serviced and operated under extremely strict military procedures, just like their "modern day" cousins, and have rather tight operating limits.
These include restricted flying hours (per aircraft) per year, very strict servicing schedules, and limitations on aerial manouvres, and very closely followed limits regarding weather conditions to, from and at the display area.

 

[buffnut453]

Good to see the community rallying around RAF Coningsby and the BBMF:

Spitfire crash: Tributes to pilot killed at Coningsby

The pilot died when his Spitfire crashed in a field near an RAF station at Coningsby on Saturday.

www.bbc.co.uk

Thoughts and prayers go to the pilot's family, friends and colleagues. This has to be heartbreaking for anyone who's ever worked in or with the BBMF. Had a couple of touchpoints with them when I was in uniform and they were always outstanding, including taking a WW2 PR pilot to see one of the Spitfire PR19s that was painted in his markings. Got a personal tour from the CO. It was a really special day.

 

[Airframes]

Yep, a very special group of people.
I spent a lot of weekends and some week days with them, over a 10 month period back in the early 1980's, making an AV presentation on the 'Flight, and they were very cooperative, friendly and helpful, and truly dedicated to their work.

 

[stona]

Squadron Leader Mark Long. RIP.

 

[rochie]