Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is an aviation museum at RAF Coningsby that displays restored World War II aircraft, including Lancaster bombers, Spitfires, and Hurricanes. The visitor center features around twelve operational machines in a walk-through hangar with detailed explanations of the technical and operational features of each aircraft.

The museum was founded in 1957 as RAF Historic Flight with three Spitfires and one Hurricane, securing the preservation of rare wartime aircraft. Over the decades, the collection grew through restoration projects and became a major repository for maintaining aircraft technology from the 1940s.

The collection honors the memory of Royal Air Force pilots through annual flying displays at military ceremonies and national events across the United Kingdom. Visitors can directly experience the significance these aircraft hold in British wartime history.

Visitors should book in advance to join guided hangar tours and plan the experience properly. For security reasons, carrying bags and large items is not permitted, and visiting conditions can vary depending on weather.

The Lancaster bomber PA474 maintained here is one of only two Lancaster bombers in the world still capable of flight. This rare aircraft is regularly flown in air shows, remaining the last of its kind able to take to the skies independently.