Luftwaffe escort for the Queen

[Martin the Martian]

I see that a pair of Typhoons (oops EF2000s) escorted the Queen and Prince Philip into Berlin yesterday. Nice touch, but what a shame that our Head of State has to use a chartered aircraft on official business. Frau Merkel can choose from a pair of A319CJs, two A330s or four Global 56000s when she comes to visit. I presume that 32 Sqdn were busy, or does the RAF not get involved in flying the Royal family around these days, unlike other Commonwealth air forces?

[Exascot]

It's an absolute disgrace.

Did they make their 'doors time'?

[Wander00]

Not a million miles so that a long haul aircraft was required. She'll be in the front of a rented Chipmunk next, although she might quite like that

[Wander00]

Sprintman - nice one!

[BEagle]

Martin the Martian, A340-300s, not A330s.

No doubt the beancounters (and miserable anti-royalists) would prefer the Queen to fly on a LoCo airline - QueenyJet?

Or perhaps Monarch would be an obvious choice ?

[darkroomsource]

Can't please everybody.
If she was flying in a military plane, people would complain about the cost to the taxpayer.

[P6 Driver]

If she was flying in a military plane, people would complain about the cost to the taxpayer.

Possibly not so many complaints if it was down the back in a C-130.

[Biggus]

Having seen how she arrived at the 2012 London Olympics, surely she could have gone over in a C-130 and simply jumped out the back?

[NutLoose]

I suppose they couldn't put the Lanc on for her as it's not fixed yet

[sharpend]

Yes, totally agree. Though I am completely biased, when we flew HM and PM we did everything completely perfectly, even down to opening the doors to the second exactly in the correct place for the red carpet. I watched the first time HM flew with BA. They overshot the carpet and were not on time.

[Heathrow Harry]

but think of the savings!!

[TBM-Legend]

The BBMF Dakota or Easy Jet I'd say...

[Exascot]

even down to opening the doors to the second

Sharpend, this was THE aim after flight safety.

Standards

[TBM-Legend]

Of course the other option was to simply drive the Royal coach and horses into a C-17 and voila transport in Berlin

[rh200]

Isn't there an airworthy B17 in pommy land. Give her a lift in that, been a while since they where seen in the skies of Germany

[P6 Driver]

Yes, totally agree. Though I am completely biased, when we flew HM and PM we did everything completely perfectly, even down to opening the doors to the second exactly in the correct place for the red carpet. I watched the first time HM flew with BA. They overshot the carpet and were not on time.

I recall suffering some of those long distance 0.000017mph taxying feats from the comfort of a control tower.

[Exascot]

P6 Driver Not from me, it was all sorted out in the air. Very unprofessional on the ground. I can't imagine any of my colleagues at the time doing this either. Also no 50kt taxing. If you get to that you have lost it. High speed turns on the ground and you have got ADCs and PPOs trying to kit up with swords and shooters respectfully all over the cabin

[PAXfips]

[CoffmanStarter]

I always thought that when Her Majesty arrived somewhere 'foreign' in a British VC-10 of the RAF, it was all quite magical. If a civilian aircraft was required ... then Concord was the next best thing.

What a shame ...

[NutLoose]

Yes, totally agree. Though I am completely biased, when we flew HM and PM we did everything completely perfectly, even down to opening the doors to the second exactly in the correct place for the red carpet. I watched the first time HM flew with BA. They overshot the carpet and were not on time.

"'Er luv, it's not time, go and plonk yer butt and i'll tell ya when it's time to get orf"

Do you think she misses the top of the toilet polished to a mirror finish, as was done on the VC10?