#SP259 Coronation Flypast print (complete flypast)
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No SP259 - His Majesty The King's Coronation Flypast, London, 6 May 2023.
This print shows the complete, planned, flypast over The Mall in London on 6 May 2023.
On Saturday 6 May 2023 the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth will celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla with the formal Coronation Service taking place at Westminster Abbey. Upon His Majesty The King’s return to Buckingham Palace, members of the Royal Family will make their traditional appearance on the balcony to greet the crowds on The Mall and witness the Tri-Service WINDSOR Formation Flypast. Leading the formation and rotary element is SPECTRE Formation, formed of three Juno HT1 helicopters from 1 Flying Training School based at RAF Shawbury. They are followed by SEACAT Formation from the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm with Wildcat HMA2 and Merlin HM2 helicopters, NIGHTHAWK Formation from 1 Army Aviation Brigade formed of Wildcat AH1 and Apache helicopters, followed in turn by COMMANDO Formation comprising Wildcat HMA2 and Merlin HC4 from the Commando Helicopter Force. The rotary element is completed by LIFTER Formation comprising three Royal Air Force Chinooks and a single Puma HC2 from Joint Helicopter Command. The fixed wing formations are led by MEMORIAL Formation with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Hurricane and Spitfire fighters accompanying the iconic Lancaster bomber. CAMEL Formation comprising a Phenom T1 from 3 Flying Training School at RAF Cranwell and Texan T1 aircraft from 72(F) Squadron, 4 Flying Training School based at RAF Valley follow, ahead of the larger RAF aircraft from the Air Mobility and ISTAR Forces, recently transferred to No.1 Group as part of the revised Air Command operating model transformation. GRIFFIN Formation comprising an A400M Atlas C1 and two Hercules aircraft marks one of the last public appearances of the C-130 ahead of its impending planned withdrawal from RAF service in June 2023. A solitary C-17A Globemaster III, callsign BLACKCAT, then flies alone – the type having been used to convey the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to RAF Northolt from Edinburgh in September 2022. TARTAN Formation comprising a Voyager Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft and A400M Atlas C1 in the simulated Air-to-Air refuelling position exhibiting a further capability achieved by the A400M Force and completes the Air Mobility Force element from RAF Brize Norton. GUERNSEY Formation from the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Force formed by a Poseidon MRA1 from RAF Lossiemouth leading a RC-135W Rivet Joint from RAF Waddington, the latter type having seen extended operational use supporting the NATO monitoring mission following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Combat Air Force follows with DOOM Formation comprising F-35B Lightning II aircraft from RAF Marham, the type also capable of operating from the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS PRINCE OF WALES. COBRA and WARLORD Formations follow in a signature ‘CR’ formation comprising aircraft from the Typhoon Force based at both RAF Coningsby and RAF Lossiemouth in a special tribute to His Majesty The King. Finally, RED ARROWS Formation marks the debut of the new Command Support Air Transport Envoy IV CC1 aircraft flanked by the Hawk T1s of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the RED ARROWS, trailing their distinctive, patriotic red, white and blue smoke to commemorate this special occasion. The flypast would not be possible without the additional support and planning from a variety of Air Traffic agencies and the support of London City and Heathrow Airports as well as the numerous personnel preparing and supporting the aircraft to fly.