Final Hercules Flypast

[mckelvey]

Hi,

Just heard that the final Hercules flypast will taken place over Wiltshire commencing at 1000 hrs. BBC Points West indicated that the route would be available on their website. I have had a look and googled it without success.

Do any pruners have information on the route.

Thanks in advance.

McK

[Grimweasel]

The Media Release went out today. The route will be a short 45mins trip around Wilts towns to say goodbye to Wiltshire. For obvious reasons they haven't given exact timings for the route but getting airborne at circa 1030. Taking in Avebury, Calne, Melksham, Warminster, Wootton Bassett, Tetbury, Colerne, Swindon (Blunsdon area). Can't recall the exact order but Avebury and Calne first then south to Melksham/ Warminster then heading back North, winding over Lyneham, Bassett, Tetbury and back towards Swindon for finals into Brize. There is then a Parade at BZN to welcome the Sqn Standards and the official handover to Gp Capt Stamp.

[tmobile]

The route will be a short 45mins trip around Wilts towns to say goodbye to Wiltshire.

Tetbury

Isn't Tetbury in Gloucestershire?

Please don't answer this one Airborne Aircrew it isn't a wah.

[SX983]

I trust it will be a K.Even more appropriate if it was 177-first in,last out.

[November4]

Taking in Avebury, Calne, Melksham, Warminster, Wootton Bassett, Tetbury, Colerne, Swindon (Blunsdon area).

Shame Chippenham isn't on the list as the Hercs have been a familiar sight overhead.

[Grimweasel]

Here's the Media release - apologies for any earlier errors in my recalling of which towns were included!!!

On Friday, 1st Jul 11, the last of RAF Lyneham’s Hercules fleet of aircraft will say a final farewell to the County of Wiltshire before their official handover to the Station Commander of RAF Brize Norton. The intention is to have the last of the aircraft transferring to RAF Brize Norton flown at low level, in stream formation to say a final goodbye to the people of Wiltshire. Departing RAF Lyneham at approximately 1030 hours, it is envisaged that the aircraft will follow a route that will start out by flying over Avebury, Calne, Devizes, Warminster, Melksham, Trowbridge, Colerne, Lyneham, Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury, Tetbury and the Blunsdon area of Swindon, before the final leg of the journey to RAF Brize Norton.
The 1st of July will mark the end of a remarkable era not only for the RAF but for the people of the County of Wiltshire that have supported RAF Lyneham so well over the years. RAF Lyneham’s Station Commander, Group Captain John Gladston said:
“This is our last opportunity to say thank-you and pay tribute to the people of Wiltshire for all the support they have given to the Station over the past 70 years. It is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to the Hercules Force, a sentiment which I know echo’s throughout the Wiltshire community. The Hercules Force will now take a piece of our unique and proud history to RAF Brize Norton where I know they will be most welcome and I am in no doubt that it will flourish and continue to build on our proud heritage for many years to come.”

Planned to be 3x Js and 1x K Model ;-)

[tmobile]

say a final farewell to the County of Wiltshire

But not Tetbury as everyone knows that Tetbury is in Gloucestershire.

to say a final goodbye to the people of Wiltshire.

But not Tetbury as everyone knows that Tetbury is in Gloucestershire.

not only for the RAF but for the people of the County of Wiltshire

Apart from Tetbury because it is in Gloucestershire.

This is our last opportunity to say thank-you and pay tribute to the people of Wiltshire

Tetbury is in Gloucestershire.

which I know echo’s throughout the Wiltshire community

Apart from the community of Tetbury because that is in Gloucestershire.

Oh wait a minute, doesn't one of the Senior Officers live in Tetbury in Gloucestershire? That will be it. Just sneak a flypast over your house which happens to be in Gloucestershire. Nobody will notice.

[Dengue_Dude]

Who gives a toss about Tetbury?

The thread is about the loss of Lyneham and the Hercules' goodbye to all the areas it 'populated'.

A sad day indeed. It'll be weird to drive from Bassett to Lyneham without Albert droning over your head. I loved my time there.

Best of luck to all affected, those going and those staying.

[Grimweasel]

Change of plan - the formation will depart LYN at 1030, route will now head North to Tetbury first then head back over Badmington Park, down the side of Bath then onto Warminster, then turning North over Melksham, then Devizes, onto Beckhampton roundabout at Avebury before heading over Cherhill and Calne - then towards the West of Chippenham and turning to fly over Chippenham. Then form up to overfly Lyneham again and getting into tighter formation to overfly Wootton Bassett High Street (over the town hall on stilts and memorial) before heading over to Shrivenham. After Shrivenham I think it was Blunsdon area of Swindon before landing at BZN circa 1115 local. Job done.

[November4]

Thanks fro the update Grim

Good to see Chippenham on the route now.....Oh the power of having a moaning on here

[Wander00]

Never been a truckie, but been to Lyneham a time or two, and flew in the Hercules in the FI in '86. Well done to everyone - end of an era (Funny, I also worked for Marshall Aerospace for a year as well!)

[ZH875]

Paraphrasing the old K to J insults:



Lyneham to Brize - End of an Era, Start of an Error.

[tmobile]

Who gives a toss about Tetbury?

Exactly. It's in Gloucestershire with Badminton. Bath? isn't that in Somerset?

[Lyneham Lad]

Arghh, what timing. Twenty six years under the LYN approach and I'm going to miss the final flypast due to a 10.50 hospital appointment - bugger!

Hmm, I wonder if the consultant will let me off the table long enough to get on the hospital roof with my long lens when they are on the way over to Shrivenham...

[Roger Mellie's Enemy]

On the rare occasion of me contributing here and the all too frequent and familiar sounding "final something"... I can't help but feel 'Lyneham ehh -what the hell have we done?'

Bugger, double-bugger and damn

Wish I could be there to see & hear Albert's final day perpetuating The Wiltshire Hum. I also offer my thanks to the locals who always made us so welcome and tell them that I'm poorer now for not having the available opportunity to repeat a great experience there.

[November4]

1300BST and just seen 4 Hercs flying over Chippenham - assume it's the practise for tomorrow. Look forward with sadness to the real one tomorrow.

Hope they found Tetbury and Badminton OK

[Rocket2]

"The thread is about the loss of Lyneham and the Hercules' goodbye to all the areas it 'populated'."
What a shame a lot of locals like me will be working or doing other things so will miss the flypast, might have been nicer to schedule it at 18:00 - Oh just realised its POETS day.. Thanks to all the stations folk past & present for the fond memories of my tour on B Line ('97), helping put the comet on the gate & working in the gin palace ('87) before leaving. Wish all the good luck in the world to those who will be unemployed & to the service folk posted to Brize etc - at least I'll still be seeing the Herc's bombing Everleigh.
R2

[brakedwell]

Exactly forty one years ago the Britannia fleet moved out of Lyneham and from the 1st July were officially based at Brize Norton. Throughout June Britannias departed down the route, but returned to Brize until the last scheduled flight left Lyneham on June 15th. We were presented with a bottle of Champers by the Station Commander with strict instructions not to empty it before Akrotiri.

[Brain Potter]

31 years ago would be 1980. I rather think you mean forty one?

[brakedwell]

Senior moment - will amend to 1970