I seem to have read a lot of misguided comment on here.
Perhaps the dissenters will take a comment from someone who was there when the BBMF was trying to depart for the QBF.
I had also been waiting to depart west for over 2 hours but the conditions were p.poor and I binned.
Btw, I'm also an ex-military pilot.
First of all, could it be that the BBMF are allowed to fly VFR only, unlike the Reds ?
The weather at White Waltham was pretty bad this morning with limited visibility and a generally low cloud base.
At the time the BBMF were trying to depart with a five ship, I estimate the cloud base was 400 to 700 feet variable with patchy light rain. The conditions were such that the leader cancelled because it was a job seeing the other guy whilst joining up.
The last aircraft was even aborted during his take-off.
It would have been dangerous and unprofessional to continue.
In my opinion it was a tough call in the circumstances but the correct one.