Aan het eind van de ochtend kwam onderstaand bericht binnen dat de vlucht van de Britse Lancaster bommenwerper die vanmiddag om 16.29 uur laag over Landsmeer zou vliegen geannuleerd is.

CANCELLATION OF THE 4TH MAY FLIGHT BY BBMF

It is with great regret that the RAF Air Events Team have to cancel our plans to send a BBMF aircraft across to Belgium and Netherlands on 4th May 2025.

We realise this is frustrating, having just been told that the flight will go ahead this year after our cancellation last year, but our plans were based on the schedule of both Lancaster and Dakota aircraft coming out of winter maintenance, which has changed. This has impacted when we can start to fly and get crews current enough to operate overseas as well as prioritise the National VE Day commemorations in the UK. I wanted to contact you as quickly as possible with this information before too many plans were put in place.

With only one Lancaster and one Dakota in BBMFs inventory we will always be subject to maintenance and serviceability dictating when they can fly, and they are historic and somewhat geriatric aircraft after all! I know this will be disappointing, but we hope you understand. We already know that the Lancaster will be in deep maintenance in 2026 so unfortunately we will not be planning to use it for the 2026 season.

We wish you the best with the other planning of your commemorative events.

Bill McMiken
Squadron Leader William McMiken BSc(Hons) RAF | SO2 Air Events | RAF Ceremonial & Air Events Team | Bentley Priory Building, RAF Northolt, West End Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 6NG |