RAF Lossiemouth display teams grounded

By FRANK URQUHART
Published on 06/02/2013 00:47

ALL air display flights by one of the RAF’s demonstration teams this year have been cancelled by the Ministry of Defence.

ALL air display flights by one of the RAF’s demonstration teams this year have been cancelled by the Ministry of Defence.

The Tornado GR4 Demonstration Team, based at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, has been a major hit at air displays around Britain for years.

But in a brief statement posted on RAF Lossiemouth’s website, the team announced: “A decision has been made to cancel the Tornado Role Demonstration participation in the 2013 air show circuit season.”

It was unclear last night whether the decision was a result of MoD budget cuts or connected with the fatal crash last July involving two Tornados based at the Moray air base.

Flight Lieutenant Adam Sanders, Squadron Leader Samuel Bailey and Flight Lieutenant Hywel Poole were killed when the two aircraft collided over the Moray Firth. An investigation is unlikely to be completed until this summer. An RAF spokesman said: “We can confirm the Tornado GR4 Demonstration Team will not be operating this year. This decision has been taken following a review of operational priorities. No decision has been made about the 2014 season.”

Angus Robertson, SNP MP for Moray, said: “I will be writing to the MoD for a full explanation and pressing for the display team to resume as soon as possible.”