There was no big build up, no massive crowds.. just a couple of aeroplanes bimbling over a village as they may have done 60 years ago with a few yokels like me, just looking up and squinting, before they were gone and all was quiet again. It bought them to life because it put them in context and made you want to almost protect them - they seemed so old, so vulnerable almost.. but so utterly proud and there were a few old boys suffering from the pollen I can tell you. We realise that BBMF is fantastic, so developing its work, I wonder if the time isn't right to broaden its scope to develop some sort of tri-service (maybe) military historical preservation Flight? We proudly remember The Few, those who drew the line in the sand for us, but should we not be preparing to remember those who came after The Few too?
It made me think. What if anything, is going to be done to preserve the current crop of outgoing kit, such as the Jag or Tornado? I realise there are huge priority, technical, political, accountability, safety, security and cost issues, but have these been investigated and discounted, or is it all just too difficult? Are there any GR3 or GR1 Harriers still flying I wonder? At the 2028 RIAT, we will want to see the likes of a wing swept Tonka blatting across an airfield, I'm sure. Have we learnt nothing from 558?