Likely for the first time in decades, an active-duty Royal Air Force pilot died in the crash of a Spitfire on Saturday. Squadron Leader Mark Long was taking part in a display by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby in northwest England. The aircraft reportedly suffered an engine failure on takeoff and came down in a field about 1:20 p.m. local time. It flipped and ended up within a few feet of a house. "It is with great sadness that we must confirm the death of an RAF pilot in a tragic accident near RAF Coningsby today. "The pilot's family have been informed and we ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/raf-pilot-dies-in-spitfire-crash