RAF awes crowds with centenary aerial display
THE largest ever formation of RAF Typhoons have spelt out “100” in the skies above Buckingham Palace to mark the centenary of the service.
A total of 22 of the fighter jets took part in the flypast, forming into the numbers, surprising both the public and Royal Family watching the spectacle.
Squadron Leader Mike Child said the display took “months of planning”, with pilots undertaking simulator training and multiple briefings.
Asked how hard it has been putting together the formation, he said: “It has been difficult because it is the biggest formation we have ever done as a Typhoon force.”
He revealed much of the practice has been taking place over the North Sea to avoid being spotted and to give them more space.
“That formation is relatively big and unwieldy and trying to manoeuvre it is difficult, so doing it over land is harder,” Sqn Ldr Child said.
Five frontline Typhoon squadrons, plus one training unit, are involved in the formation – with eight jets and 150 personnel brought down from RAF Lossiemouth to RAF Coningsby for the flypast.
Asked how he felt to be involved prior to taking a back seat in one of the jets, Sqn Ldr Child said: “It is an overwhelming sense of pride... to be involved on the day - flying will be just amazing.”
Asked what the Queen would make of the display, he said: “It is going to be quite a tight formation. I think hopefully she will be very impressed – it is going to be loud as well going down the Mall.”