BAE SYSTEMS TO SPONSOR BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT

July 12, 2008 by Marcel van Leeuwen

BAE Systems is helping the RAF celebrate its 90th anniversary this year with a new five year sponsorship agreement under which it will support the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby, helping to preserve legendary aircraft such as Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane – vital elements of the two organisations’ shared heritage.

The initiative grew out of a desire, shared between BAE Systems and the RAF, to safeguard their combined heritage. It’s a proud history which includes “The Few” who took to the skies to defend Britain during WWII and BAE Systems’ heritage companies which include some of the most famous names in aviation, including Supermarine, Hawker and Avro.

While a key aim of the venture is to keep history alive, both parties recognise the aircraft also have an important “inspirational value” attracting people towards aviation and engineering.

As part of its sponsorship, a dramatic new air-to-air photograph of a historic Spitfire and new-generation Typhoon swing-role fighter was commissioned. Taken by aviation specialist photographer Jamie Hunter, this will be used in a new promotional poster for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, underpinning a relationship between BAE Systems and the RAF that is stronger and deeper today than ever.

Alongside the historic ties, RAF Coningsby is also where BAE Systems and the RAF are developing an entirely new way of working together to deliver the enormous abilities of the Typhoon swing-role fighter.

The base is home to four Typhoon squadrons and, alongside the RAF staff, 150 BAE Systems employees are based there to provide engineering, training and spare parts support as part of the development of a full availability service contract.

Source: BAE