Upwards of 100 military aircraft are due to join a huge flypast over central London this coming July.
While The Queen gets a military flypast over Buckingham Palace for her birthday, the RAF are this year getting their own birthday flypast, to mark their 100th birthday. The flypast will take place on the afternoon of 10th July, and is expected to form up over Essex before heading over East London as they line up to pass over The Mall and Buckingham Palace.
The flypast will then disperse, with planes and helicopters heading over other military bases around West London and the Home Counties.
As there will be a mass parade along the Mall by thousands of servicemen and women, the Mall itself is expected to be sealed off. Fortunately, a flypast is a pretty easy thing to see from the distance, and anywhere along the route within the City or East London is going to get the full flypast experience.
If you’re cunning, maybe book tickets to be at the top of The Shard, or other suitable high locations around London on the day.
Ahead of the flypast, Horseguards Parade will be taken over by the RAF for an exhibition of aircraft covering the RAF’s history, from WW1, to WW2, to the Cold War, to the modern age.
The exhibition will take place 6th-9th July.
100 aircraft eh? I didn’t think the RAF had that many planes left after all the cuts.
I look forward to seeing this.
The 1990 Battle of Britain 50th anniversary flypast had 168 aircraft
Huge? With what – British Airways airliners? Those days are long gone…
The full line up is to be announced, but most people of reasonably sane mind would accept that 100 military aircraft in formation is pretty big.
My sanity – and rationality – fine thanks! Big, certainly, huge no – RAF strength 2017 including trainers, transports, drones but excluding helicopters, gliders & joint NATO assets c.500 – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/602089/Statistic_on_the_number_of_Royal_Air_Force__RAF__aircraft_contained_within_the_forward_and_sustainment_fleets.pdf. Doesn’t include naval or army, but this is an RAF show. Red Arrows comprise nine (9) aircraft alone. Depending upon definition (e.g. combat aircraft), Britain can be ranked from 5th downward in the world. The Commemorative (formerly Confederate!) Air Force has over 100 flyable warbirds!
Any chance of oh, I dunno, the red baron being chased along the Mall by the odd triplane as a bit of a side~show or a couple of Harriers bobbing up and down as they go to make it a truly memorable centennial celebration?
Why the middle of the week..people in work, kids in school…
It’s for the RAF not school kids, that some other people can watch is a lovely side-effect.
Thanks Ian. Is there any information on start time / finish time of the Flypast, yet?
It’ll be terrific! Just hope all those with negative comments stay at home so there’s more room for us who will celebrate what the RAF has achieved.
Amen to that! I wonder how many ‘brave’ 17 yr olds would volunteer to lay their lives on the line nowadays. Or hand over their iPhones for a few hours!!!?
The 1990 Battle of Britain 50th anniversary flypast had 168 aircraft! I remember watching it from The Mall
I’m travelling up from Sussex for the flypast – does anyone know an approximate time that the planes are due to go over? Don’t want to miss the beginning. Thanks so much:)
Can anyone advise the best places to watch? I have had Waterloo bridge mentioned as they might come past there on their way down The Strand.
Route map is a bit vague between Chelmsford and Leyton, anyone know at what point they cross the M25?
Route for fly past over east London/Essex ie Havering
I can’t find any info on where to watch what after Buckingham Palace. Which planes are in the three branches, and what are the routes?
Do you know if it will fly above the Thames please as it crosses the City?
Per Ardua ad Astra……..God bless the RAF…as an ex member am very proud of the Service and all members serving and retired.