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Following a recent fatal accident, it has now been confirmed that the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will not be able to take part in Guernsey's air show this year.
A replacement aircraft has been booked to perform at the local display instead with the organisers saying the safety of everyone involved remains paramount, especially in light of the incident last month.
Squadron Leader Mark Long was killed in a Spitfire crash while taking part in a Battle of Britain memorial event in England on 25 May.
The Guernsey Air Display Foundation has recently been told that the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will not be conducting any displays or flypasts in the week commencing 10 June, whilst investigations continue following that tragic accident.
Pictured: Squadron Leader Mark Long – RAF Coningsby Photo Section.
Guernsey Air Display - which is usually held in September but was moved to June this year so the Red Arrows could take part - will instead feature the Navy Wings Fairey Swordfish. The crew will also attend Meet the Pilots the day before.
In making this announcement, the organisers of the Guernsey Air Display said:
"The Guernsey Air Display Foundation offers its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Squadron Leader Mark Long and his colleagues at RAF Coningsby.
"The safety of the display pilots, crew, support teams and the viewing public is paramount to the Foundation."
The Navy Wings Fairey Swordfish will replace the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at the 2024 Guernsey Air Display with the crew also attending the Meet the Pilots event at Guernsey Airport the day before.
The Fairey Swordfish entered service in 1936 and sank more tonnage than any other Allied plane during World War II.
It had the capability to serve as a dive-bomber, perform night missions, and pioneered the use of Air-to-Surface Vessel (ASV) radar.
It was affectionately nicknamed 'Stringbag' as it was compared to a housewife's string shopping bag, common at the time, due to its ability to carry an unlikely combination of loads.
The Navy Wings Swordfish Mk1 W5856 is one of the oldest surviving airworthy Fairey Swordfish in the world and will be flying in its new D-Day livery.
The final line up for the display is currently: Hawker Hurricane MK1, Navy Wings Harvard and Fairey Swordfish, Mustang X-Ray PC-21 Team, Poseidon MRA1, RAF Red Arrows, Rich Goodwin’s Jet Pitts, Team Raven and The Titans.
The display will take place between 11:00 and 13:15. The running order will be confirmed early next week.
Pictured top: The Navy Wings Swordfish Mk1 W5856 (Navy Wings).
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