A flypast 70 years in the making: Spectacular tribute to the Queen featured decades of Britain’s best flying machines from the Spitfires that won the Battle of Britain to the majestic Red Arrows
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The pinnacle of today’s celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was the flypast of 71 aircraft that included Spitfires, a Lancaster Bomber and the Red Arrows.
Her Majesty beamed from the Buckingham Palace balcony as she watched the planes and helicopters fly overhead whilst standing next to senior royals including Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate and their children.
Also seen in the skies were 15 Typhoon fighter jets, which paid a special tribute to Her Majesty’s long reign by flying in the formation of the number 70.
Bar the Red Arrows – which are the Royal Air Force’s famous aerobatics team – the planes that took part have all featured in military operations for the UK, most recently in the evacuation of Kabul last August and in NATO operations to defend Eastern Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
Leading the formation were helicopters including the Wildcat, Merlin and Apache aircraft. They were followed by Britain’s most famous Second World War planes – the Spitfire and Hurricane fighters and the Lancaster Bomber.
More recent aircraft trailed behind them, including the Hercules C-130 – which was among those used to evacuate people from Kabul after the Taliban’s takeover.
The last planes to feature were the Typhoon FGR4 – the RAF’s main fighter aircraft – and finally the Red Arrows, which streaked across the sky with their trademark red, white and blue smoke.
The pinnacle of today’s celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was the flypast of 71 aircraft that included Spitfires, a Lancaster Bomber and the Red Arrows. Also seen in the skies were 15 Typhoon fighter jets (above), which paid a special tribute to Her Majesty’s long reign by flying in the formation of the number 70
The Red Arrows streaked across the sky with their trademark red, white and blue smoke. Above: They are seen as crowds wave Union Jack flags on The Mall
A VIP Voyager from the RAF is seen flying whilst flanked by four F35B aircraft. It flew behind an RAF Voyager, Typhoon and F35B
Wildcat, Merlin, Apache, Puma and Chinook helicopters
RAF, Royal Navy and Army helicopters were at the front of the flypast formation.
Leading them was the one Royal Navy Wildcat.
It is the Navy’s latest generation of helicopter and flies from frigates and destroyers. It boasts a top speed of 181mph (157 knots) and can carry Sting Ray torpedoes, a door-mounted heavy machine gun and anti-surface guided weapon missiles.
Alongside the Wildcat were two of the Navy’s Merlin aircraft. It has a crew of five and has a lifting capacity of 3.8tonnes. Its main job is to hunt for submarines whilst it is also used for general maritime patrols.
It is armed with Sting-Ray Torpedoes, depth charges and a .50 calibre machine gun. It can also be used for ferrying troops, evacuating casualties and search and rescue.
RAF, Royal Navy and Army helicopters were at the front of the flypast formation. Leading them was the one Royal Navy Wildcat
Folllowing the Merlin was one Army Wildcat and then three of the RAF’s Puma helicopters. The Puma is used in a variety of combat roles, including the movement of troops, weapons and ammunition.
It can also be used to rescue casualties and has helped in humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
It can carry 16 passengers, 12 fully equipped troops or two tonnes of freight. It can also be used in casualty evacuation.
It boasts two 7.62mm general purpose machine guns.
Behind the Puma were three Chinooks, which are used by the RAF for a variety of roles, including the carrying of troops and evacuating casualties. They can also help to resupply troops on the ground.
The Red Arrows
The famous Red Arrows are the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force. Flying the BAE Hawk jet aircraft, they are made up of 11 pilots and based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.
At today’s flypast, they were the last planes to feature, releasing red, white and blue smoke as they appeared over Buckingham Palace whilst the Queen watched on.
Their commanding officer is Wing Commander David Montenegro, who this year penned a book about the unit.
The Red Arrows’ name stems from the planes they flew until 1979 – the Folland Gnat – which boasted swept-back wings.
The unit’s most famous formation is Diamond Nine, where Red 1 – the codename for the most senior pilot – flies at the front, with the other eight fanned out behind him.
For the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, they added the Deep Diamond, with different planes at different heights to create a 3D effect.
Formed in 1964, the Red Arrows have featured at major royal events and other special occasions, as well as airshows around the country.
The famous Red Arrows are the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force. Flying the BAE Hawk jet aircraft, they are made up of 11 pilots and based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshir
At today’s flypast, they were the last planes to feature, releasing red, white and blue smoke as they appeared over Buckingham Palace whilst the Queen watched on
Although the pilots do not risk their lives in combat, their role is not totally safe. Ten pilots and one engineer have lost their lives since the team’s formation.
Four pilots died in the same incident in 1971, when two planes collided during a practice session.
Wing Commander Montenegro was involved in an accident in 2010 but was able to land safely and the other pilot survived after using his ejector seat.
In 2018, RAF engineer Corporal Jonathan Bayliss, 41, died when his Hawk T1 crashed while flying at RAF Valley on Anglesey.
The pilot Flight Lieutenant David Stark, was seriously injured after ejecting moments before the plane hit the ground.
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