Spitfire MH434 'Last Post' - A Tribute to Ray & Mark Hanna - Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow 2019

This is the finale to The Imperial War Museum, Duxford's 'Saturday edition' of their 2019 Battle of Britain Airshow.
A simply wonderful solo performance by pilot Brian Smith, flying The Old Flying Machine Company's famous Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXB, MH434, G-ASJV.
The display was dedicated to the memory of Squadron Leader Ray Hanna (1928-2005), a former leader of the RAF Red Arrows and to his son, Mark Hanna (1959-1999), also an ex RAF pilot. Both of whom were founders of The Old Flying machine Company, together with Sarah Hanna.
The evocative display was accompanied by a version of 'The Last Post', arranged by Graham De Wilde, which can be found on the musical album entitled 'The Red White and Blue'.
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[@captaincrash9286]

Sublime, thank you. Like a fine musical instrument, MH434 carries a legacy of the maestros who made her sing over the years. Especially Neil, Mark and of course the great Ray. I'm sure she misses him.. I know I do.

[@richarddutchholland4780]

I honestly don’t think man has created anything else as beautiful as the Spitfire ... it’s simply mesmerising

[@johnmclean6498]

Yes Richard I agree. Artists find it very difficult to capture. There are few who got it just right. Some miss the wings, or the spinner, some just get their "Marks" mixed up. I have screenshots and prints of "The Few" artists who got it!

[@georgejacob3162]

I can think of two other beautiful British designs. The Jaguar E Type and Concorde.

[@marklynch3149]

I agree, it's a flying work of art

[@MultiSusina]

Probably the best evocative and emotive tribute to three flying legends Rest In Peace Mark & Ray Hannah long may your beautiful Spitfire continue to grace our sky's.................................Blue Sky's Forever.................

[@marklynch3149]

I was proud to have been there on the day. I travelled from Newcastle and it was worth every mile 🇬🇧

[@HighFlight]

This year's is looking good too!👍

[@marklynch3149]

@@HighFlight I'll be there 👍

[@MsMH434]

Really lovely. Thank you for posting. Brian Smith turned in an exquisite display that day, loaded with memory and meaning. It was officially a tribute to Mark's loss, 20 years earlier. I was lucky enough to see it from the tower, and I'm not ashamed to say, as Mark's sister, that I wept. Another pilot I know who was up on the tower too said that as Brian pulled up in to the bluest of skies at the end, it looked as though the gods, jealous of such loveliness, were trying to pull the Spitfire into their heaven. It was a truly masterly display. As to the chap below who calls himself Viper - such a well chosen tag - his comments are hugely regrettable, and woefully inappropriate given that he appears to have met him just once.

[@waynester71]

One of the very few pieces of music that can be played whilst a Spitfire is displaying... simply beautiful

[@BlackAce-zr2ms]

My unicorn...beautiful display by MH434...I remember watching Ray Hanna fly her back in the early 00's, always bought a lump to my throat, pure grace!

[@allangibson4354]

Oh my word, what a truly moving tribute.

[@mike.47]

What a beautiful aircraft with the soundtrack of WW2.

[@ijc1958]

The Spitfire and E Type Jag two of the most beautifully designed machines ever Both British both engineering perfection Both will live on forever

[@HighFlight]

So true - maybe somebody should start making 100% 'new build' replicas of both?

[@ChickenNugget-dk9hp]

@@HighFlight They already make 100% replicas a lot of flying ones are

[@HighFlight]

@@ChickenNugget-dk9hp Yes, I agree. Most of the newly appearing Spitfires are actually new build replicas with recovered original data plates and a few non critical parts. You can never have too many though! I'm not sure if there are any replica or new build 'E' type Jaguar's yet though?

[@GRH316]

Grandad I know I wasn’t the first son of a son and we never got on, but thank you to you and uncle Jack for putting up the fight in WW2

[@xjboy550]

Wow that brought a tear to the eye thanks for this

[@mattlinley7298]

I always get teary-eyed seeing and hearing a Spitfire it is a reminder to the younger generation that men gave us their today so we can have our tomorrow. RIP to all of the men who never made it home

[@philipclayton4766]

Well written Matt, I used some of your words on my timeline when I shared this video. I was privileged to have been at the BoB show last weekend at Duxford.

[@mattlinley7298]

@@philipclayton4766 your more than welcome to use anything I have written thank you for your video hope you are doing well and ill subscribe to your channel

[@paulybassman7311]

I was airbourne within my Dad in a cessna 152 a few miles away when Mark flew under Winston Bridge (Co. Durham) in 87 or 88 I beleive. We landed back at Teesside Airport just after Mark and MH434, parked on the same ramp and got my photo with Mark and MH 434. Mark let me look at cockpit (with door opened down)😆 . I known She was Ray's Bird , but seemed Mark even had His intials in Her Name.😊 Seen Her again in 2008 have a full Service and Restore at Duxford. I just stood there and went...... "Awwwww, ..... Helloooooo"😉😂

[@HighFlight]

A great story and memory. It was 7th July 1988 I believe, although the records only appear to show that Ray Hanna was the pilot for the 'stunt'. I've read that Mark was watching from the river bank and stated that he looked away as the Spitfire went under the bridge and also said that he wouldn't himself have done the 'stunt'. Thanks for sharing the memory with us. Ray and Mark Hannah are both sorely missed and left an indelible mark and legacy in aviation history.

[@udaloop86]

Wonderful. Thanks for sharing mate.

[@paulhiggins8662]

She truly is the Prima Ballerina of the skies. Such grace, elegance and precision as she jumps, turns and pirouettes around her aerial stage to the beautiful musical accompaniment of those Rolls Royce engines. Yet paradoxically this beautiful, majestic aircraft was also an incredibly effective killing machine.

[@pauljanssens4449]

Impressively smooth flying Brian !

[@davelee5547]

Just stunning !!!!!!!

[@stephencameron4032]

A beautiful and moving tribute.

[@joshhemingwaythewlismetcalfe96]

Great video. This spitfire looks beautiful indeed, especially watching this plane flying in the air. Yes It’s very sad about those pilot’s. Spitfire is one of my favourite fighter aircraft from the Second World War. Thanks for sharing this, and all the best ... Josh

[@HighFlight]

Thanks Josh. All the best to you as well:)

[@cal-native]

Lovely soundtrack to a fitting tribute, and excellent videography. I know it's been a couple years now, but the video holds up beautifully! So nice to be spared the Top Gun theme!😵

[@HighFlight]

Many thanks. I'm glad that you enjoyed the film.👍😊

[@waynester71]

Hardly a comment needed.. beautiful. I believe even the great Alex Henshaw said that Ray was the master of Spitfire displays..

[@robertgilbert1987]

A. Henshaw....Never heard of Geoffrey Quill then?? Henshaw was too much of the mouth,but in that singular case he was mostly right.

[@markharlock6474]

@@robertgilbert1987 It's Jeffrey Quill, and Alex Henshaw was the brilliant chief production test pilot at the Castle Bromwich factory throughout WW2. He certainly wasn't a 'mouth' and all he got for his war work was a measly MBE.

[@tgray119]

The film of Alex displaying a Spit in front of Churchill is The Best I have seen.Inverted low passed Winnie stunned him!

[@tgray119]

Alex test flew more Spits than anyone but modestly said he couldn't shake his Czech pilot Jichda off his tail.Alex held the record to Cape & back for decades.

[@vipertwenty249]

By the way Mark Hanna is now remembered well, I must assume he improved his attitude beyond recognition to what it was when I had the misfortune to meet him back in about 1991. He was then a stuck up self important prig, and not a patch on his father. The other pilot in whose company I was gave him a severe talking to, but I was left at that time with the impression that the message had not gone through. Ray Hanna - I salute you! A finer man I never met.

[@HighFlight]

Sadly I didn't know either man personally, but I'm sure others will know and maybe his fathers attitude and temperament will have been carried through to his son over time and experience. No father should have to bear the loss of a son and both Mark and Ray were taken from this world too soon, like many others.

[@vipertwenty249]

@@HighFlight I truly would hope you are right.

[@tgray119]

Mark always seemed a talented reserved young man.

[@WolfingtonStanley]

I saw Ray fly at Goodwood in 2001 I think it was The whole team of 7 birds took off and Ray just disappeared, the rest formed in pairs and did little mini displays Next thing you know Ray and MH434 have suddenly reappeared down the middle of the field port wing down half an inch from the ground My heart was in my mouth Ray didn't fly the Spitfire, he put it on

[@HighFlight]

I would have loved to have been there and seen that. I heard that he also flew at some time very very low and fast down the Goodwood finishing straight. He was and still is an aviation legend.

[@453421abcdefg12345]

A really impressive display and a fitting tribute the Ray and Mark, I think it is fair to say that they started the whole display events that we now enjoy so much, so it is fitting that MH434 should put on this display, who was flying on this day ?

[@HighFlight]

Chris - Brian Smith was flying MH434 for this display. Also flying in other aircraft during the day were Cliff Spink, Alex Smee, Nick Smith, Adrain Barton, Chris Carver, Sean Perrett, Charlie Brown, Anthony Parkinson, Martin Overall, Jim Schofield, Pete Kynsey, Peter Teichman, Rolph Meehum, Dave Harvey, John Romain, Roger Bailey, Paul Bonhomme, Chris Gotke, Eskil Andal, Jon Gowdy, Mark Linney, Will Greenwood, Emiliano Del Buono, Kenneth Aarkvisla and Martin Tesli, among many others. The Sunday display also saw Cliff Spink's final airshow display.

[@453421abcdefg12345]

Many thanks for that information Steve, I wish I could have been there, but you took me along with your video! Chris B.

[@HighFlight]

@@453421abcdefg12345 My pleasure, Chris. I filmed all of the show, so you'll be able to see each part as I post it.