The Pilots
There are only three full-time pilots on the strength of the RAF BBMF: the Officer Commanding, Operations Officer and the Standards and Evaluation Pilot. Additionally, there is one part-time reservist pilot, and all other BBMF aircrew are volunteers with primary duties in the wider RAF who fly the BBMF aircraft mainly in their own time – a considerable commitment. The BBMF Spitfires and Hurricanes are flown by pilots whose previous flying experience includes the Harrier, Tornado, Hawk and Typhoon aircraft. The Dakota and Lancaster are flown by pilots with backgrounds on heavy, multi-engine, multi-crew aircraft, including the Hercules, Globemaster and A400M. The Flight also has volunteer Navigators, Flight Engineeres and Air Loadmasters who are all essential to the safe and efficient operation of the Lancaster and Dakota.