In the January 1996 issue of ‘FlyPast’ Robert Rudhall provided an overview of the meticulous work being done by Historic Flying Ltd to get BBMF Hurricane LF363 back in the air after a crash
After a disastrous accident in 1991, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Hurricane LF363 looks set to fly again later this year. Robert Rudhall reports on its rebuild progress at Historic Flying Ltd
WHEN THE BATTLE of Britain Memorial Flight's (BBMF) Hawker IIc LF363 crashed at RAF Wittering, Cambs, on September 11, 1991, the damage was so bad that it was feared the aircraft would never fly again. Now, five years on, the historic fighter looks set to rejoin BBMF this July.
The aircraft suffered a serious engine malfunction, north of Stamford, Lincs, while en route to an airshow in Jersey. The pilot, Sqn Ldr Allan Martin, had no choice but to get the Hurricane down, and quick! By the time he approached Wittering a serious fire was raging under the engine cowlings, and upon impact with the ground virtually the whole airframe was engulfed in flames. Even though the fire and rescue services doused the blazing aircraft with foam almost as soon as it hit the ground, the Hurricane was severely damaged. Allan suffered a broke…