On Saturday 28 June, the skies above the town’s South Bay will host the sights and sounds of the RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 and the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Spitfire, Hurricane and Dakota. This year the Armed Forces Day event is sponsored by Skipton Building Society.
The displays are part of a packed timetable that includes parades, land-based displays, musical performances and family activities.
The speed, power, agility and noise of the Typhoon will be showcased in a display by Display Pilot 25 aka Squadron Leader Nathan Shawyer. The aircraft’s twin EJ200 R-R engines ensure no-one will miss the appearance by this plane and its precision for right loops and turns will make for another awe-inspiring display. An extremely agile, multi-role combat aircraft, the Typhoon is used in all the RAF’s current operations.
Operating from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, the mission of the RAF BBMF is to maintain the priceless artefacts of our national heritage in airworthy condition to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of this country. It also serves to promote the modern-day Air Force and to inspire future generations.
This year at Scarborough Armed Forces Day it will feature a Hawker Hurricane, one of only 12 aircraft of this type left in the world. This plane played a vital role in the Battle of Britain.
There’ll also be a Douglas C47 Dakota, one of the most successful military transport aircraft designs in history and was widely used by the Allies during World War Two. The Flight’s Dakota ZA947, named ‘Kwicherbichen’ by her crews, conducted paradropping operations on the eve of D-Day, plus missions to evaluate casualties and re-supply forces.
This flight also features the iconic Supermarine Spitfire which was critical in defeating Luftwaffe air attacks in 1940. More Spitfires were built than any other British combat aircraft before or since World War Two – 20, 341 in total.
Full details, including the times for parades and displays will be announced nearer the time.