In October 2012, Squadron Leader Ian 'Smithy' Smith, outgoing officer commanding, flew the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's 'new' Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVI, TE311, for the first time in almost 60 years. A couple of undercarriage issues aside, he described the air tests as following standard procedure for any BBMF fighter - Spitfire or Hawker Hurricane. So how is an air test on a 60- or 70-year-old fighter approached? Squadron Leader Duncan 'Dunc' Mason, who now commands the BBMF, explains the air test schedule: "First the airplanes have to perform high-power engine runs and jump through a few other hoops on the ground. I like to get involved in these if I can, because ground runs give you a sense of confidence in the airplane and engine. You can sit in an aircraft and take things in, but it's only when it's running that you can take in the smells, sounds and extra-sensory stuff that goes on at high power."
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