Queens Birthday Flypast 2018

[andover]

Not quite as big as the RAF 100, the list below is for June the 9th.

QBF 18 is made up of the following, in this order at the Palace...



Puma and Chinook...Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane...A400M...C17...Voyager,2 x Typhoon...4 x Tornado...Reds 9 x Hawk

andover

[rugbyref]

I stood on the wobbly bridge and had a great view.

[cheshireexile]

I was just up river from you on Southbank near Waterloo bridge.

Participants looked to be have been:

Puma - XW224; Chinook - ZA711
Avro Lancaster - PA474; Hawker Hurricane - LF363; Supermarine Spitfire - TE311
A400M Atlas - ZM416
C-17 Globemaster - ZZ176
Voyager - ZZ330; Typhoons - ZK312 & ZK313
Tornado GR4 - ZA587, ZG752, ZA607, ZA614
The Red Arrows - not sure of exact aircraft used; appreciate it if anyone knows.

Agusta 109 - GZ100 also seen as weather/photo platform.

Just checking photo's; will post a couple later if they are worthwhile (unless anybody else beats me to it )

[filair]

If that is all the RAF could muster,maybe they should not have bothered.

[rugbyref]

I was mainly using this as reconnaissance for where to stand on 10 July. Anyway, a couple of pics taken on 200m follow. I will use my 300m for the big flypast.

Voyager and chicks by P Stevens, on Flickr

Tornado 4 ship by P Stevens, on Flickr

Reds by P Stevens, on Flickr

ZM416 RAF100 by P Stevens, on Flickr

[keefyboy]

For RAF100 I was planning to be on Waterloo bridge but now RR has mentioned the wobbly bridge, I think that might be a better bet.

Being a Battersea boy, I saw most of the QBF's throughout the 60's, 70's and early 80's - in those days, most QBF's consisted of no more than 16 aircraft but it was usually of one type - eg 16xLightning or 16xPhantom, Jaguar or Tornado - all very impressive. I think it was sometime either late 70's or early 80's that they started to toy with mixed formations. IIRC there was a flypast of 16 Tornado F2's (you remember those with the concrete in the nose for balance) in the early 80's and after that I think it was all mixed formations - I certainly remember 3 Vulcans in line astern flanked by various fighters on at least one occasion. Nimrods were regulars too.

The RAF100 website was clearly put together by muppetts who know bugger all about the history of the RAF given what they have said on their website:-

"The pinnacle of RAF100 celebrations – the flypast. Taking place on The Mall and over Buckingham Palace, the flypast will feature 100 aircraft will be the biggest ever undertaken by the Royal Air Force. Come down and join us to see what will be a once in a lifetime event."

Erm sorry but there have been numerous flypasts over London in recent years (1990 onwards) featuring well in excess of 100 aircraft let alone the mass flypasts of earlier decades!

PS: If anyone has the serials of the 16 Lightnings that flew over Battersea on the day of Churchills funeral in 65 then please tell? :-)

Cheers
Keith

[cheshireexile]

I won't duplicate very similar photo's just for the sake of posting but here a shot of the C-17 from this afternoon.

ZZ176, Boeing C-17 Globemaster, RAF (99 Sqn), Queen's Birthday Flypast (9-Jun-18) by CheshireExile, on Flickr

[Jeff]

Nice photos guys, for completeness heres a log from our Westminster correspondent

XW224 Puma
ZA711 Chinook

LF363/GN-F Hurricane
PA474/AR-L Lancaster
TE311/SZ-G Spitfire

ZM416 Atlas

ZZ176 C17

ZZ330 Voyager
ZK312/312 Typhoon
ZK312/313 Typhoon

ZA587/055 Tornado GR4
ZA607/EB-X Tornado GR4
ZA614/076 Tornado GR4
ZG752/129 Tornado GR4

XX219 244 245 278 310 311 319 322 325 Hawks Reds

[rugbyref]

Thanks Jeff. Will we be able to see a similar full log on 10 July? Fingers crossed!m

[Jeff]

Well, i will be with our Westminster correspondent and fellow member effects on a bridge over the thames so hopefully yes !!

[Jeff]

More late news from our Westminster friend

weather Hawk was XX255, airspace Tonka ZG771 and photo helo was A109 GZ100

[rugbyref]

Could be an AFAgathering on the wobbly bridge?

[keefyboy]

I'm not into photography myself but may take a few on the iPhone. With the Founders at one end selling Youngs Special and the Anchor at the other end selling ESB - the wobbly bridge is a no brainer!

Cheers folks