Falklands Flypast (17th June)

[LateArmLive]

F3 force? Jag force?

Maybe I should have said: " I think you'll find the Harrier Force is stretched to beyond breaking point at the moment." Sorry, getting totally off thread.

[FRAG7]

Scout and Gazelle

Would it not be fitting to have a Scout and Gazelle in the flypast? The Gazelle is still in service and Scout XT626 is still a military registered aircraft serving with the Army Historic Flight.
There were, after all, 2 Sqns serving there, 3 BAS and 656 Sqn AAC

[ZH875]

Vulcan

If the Vulcan is unable to make it, a Typhoon could be used to represent it.

Just claim that the Delta Wing has been reduced in size, to represent the cuts to the RAF.

[AHQHI656SQN]

Regardless of what was flown then...

Surely, those squadrons who took part in the Falklands back in 1982 have earned the right to parade with pride, either on the ground or in the air.

TM, shame you think that it is all a waste of time.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

See also Sea Harrier at Falklands Anniversary

And this from the RN site.

Also on the Sunday, a Harrier aircraft from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious will salute Falklands War veterans and the liner QE2, on which they will have had lunch. The flypast is due to take place at 2.00 pm. To commemorate the ship’s important role in carrying troops to the South Atlantic in 1982, a plaque will be unveiled in the liner’s Crystal Bar at about 12 noon by Major General Mike Scott of the Scots Guards and Brigadier Johnny Picket of the Welsh Guards.

[vecvechookattack]

A Harrier from the aircraft carrier Illustrious ?????

Yeah, right.


I flew in the RW formation this afternoon; Consists of (and in order)

3 Seaking 5 (771)
4 Seaking 4 (CHF)
3 Merlin (MHF)
1 Seaking (Yellow SAR)
5 RN Lynx (LHF)
3 RM Lynx + 2 Apache
1 Chinook

[Archimedes]

Is it safe to assume that 'Brigadier Johnny Picket' of the Welsh Guards is actually Brigadier J F Rickett CBE, CO of the WG during 1982? (presumably Navy News won't say that he'll be accompanied by Admiral Sir Clive Woodward, commander of the Task Force...)

[Tim McLelland]

I think it's possibly a bit unfair to equate the BofB 50 flypast with the Falklands 25 flypast. Agreed, the aircraft in the BofB flypast had nothing to do with the BofB either (apart from the BBMF Spits and Hurricanes) but back then there were enough resources to put-up a big flypast which impressed the spectator by virtue of sheer numbers. Besides, it was about more than the BofB, it was a celebration of the RAF's "finest hour" so the inclusion of any RAF aircraft was fair game.
In the case of Falklands 25, the result isn't going to impress anyone. There's really no point in trying to create a representative flypast with only a Nimrod, VC10 and a couple of Hercules. Clearly, from the public's viewpoint, it was about the Harrier/Sea Harrier and the Vulcan, and for the average uninformed observer, the rest just won't make any sense. As I said earlier, it would have been better to have simply got a formation of Hawks in a big "25" and tagged it on to the Birthday flypast the day before, and confined the actual Falklands flypast to helicopters, in my opinion. I fear it's a case of a situation where if you can't do it properly (and in fairness we all know that the resources aren't there) then it would be better not to do it at all. I mean really, five Dominies? Come on!

[Si Clik]

Flypast order

VVHA
Not wishing to be picky but as lead of the Merlin Formation the order was:

3 Seaking 5 (771)
4 Seaking 4 (CHF)
1 Seaking (Yellow SAR)
5 RN Lynx (LHF)
3 Merlin (MHF)
3 RM Lynx + 2 Apache
1 Chinook

I particularly enjoyed the low level TRA intruder, suit and hat job I think.

Si

[FRAG7]

There is a posibility that a Scout and Gazelle might be able to provide a static in the park, next to the Mall. We shall wait and see if they will be allowed to fly in and position for the day.