Nice one, RAFAT!
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Hang your head in shame. The crews gave their weekend to fight the weather and get through whilst this armchair pilot sits and criticises.
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Here at London City the weather was Broken at 1,600 ft and pouring with rain. My garden path is flooded. As stated above, the top of The Shard (1,000 ft) was in it. All credit to the formation crews for getting done what they did, it's not just the palace pass, they had to let down and formate in it. The distortion of the Red Arrows coloured smoke behind them showed the turbulence they were in.
Last edited by WHBM; 6th May 2023 at 19:20.
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Having been involved in a cancelled London flypast I can sympathise with the crews who could not take part due to the weather. All the planning and practice come to naught.
I thought that those who did participate did a very good job in marginal conditions.
It would have been the easy option for the authorising officer to cancel the whole flypast. That it was not done reflects credit on whoever was responsible.
I wonder how many of the armchair critics have ever had any involvement in any capacity in organising or flying in these very public events.
I thought that those who did participate did a very good job in marginal conditions.
It would have been the easy option for the authorising officer to cancel the whole flypast. That it was not done reflects credit on whoever was responsible.
I wonder how many of the armchair critics have ever had any involvement in any capacity in organising or flying in these very public events.
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Well done the Heli Crews and RAFAT for a job well done in clearly marginal weather.
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Having been involved in a cancelled London flypast I can sympathise with the crews who could not take part due to the weather. All the planning and practice come to naught.
I thought that those who did participate did a very good job in marginal conditions.
It would have been the easy option for the authorising officer to cancel the whole flypast. That it was not done reflects credit on whoever was responsible.
I wonder how many of the armchair critics have ever had any involvement in any capacity in organising or flying in these very public events.
I thought that those who did participate did a very good job in marginal conditions.
It would have been the easy option for the authorising officer to cancel the whole flypast. That it was not done reflects credit on whoever was responsible.
I wonder how many of the armchair critics have ever had any involvement in any capacity in organising or flying in these very public events.
I do find it a bit strange that a Hawk 9-ship was allowed to fly through London, but all other FJ were cancelled. Beyond their capabilities? They do still routinely fly at 250 feet right? Would it have been so dangerous that only a red arrow could handle it?
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I think that video says it all about the conditions - essentially flying through a slot only a few hundred feet high. They did well to pull that off.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
The Prince & Princess of Wales, & Kensington Royal.:
Noted the rotary crews did the heavy lifting… perfect flying conditions if you ask me! 😉
A big thank you to everyone for making today happen.
W
Noted the rotary crews did the heavy lifting… perfect flying conditions if you ask me! 😉
A big thank you to everyone for making today happen.
W
I do find it a bit strange that a Hawk 9-ship was allowed to fly through London, but all other FJ were cancelled. Beyond their capabilities? They do still routinely fly at 250 feet right? Would it have been so dangerous that only a red arrow could handle it?
God I love armchair QFIs.
Ninthace has hit the nail on the head.
Bravo to all those FW colleagues who were scuppered by the weather. I’m very mindful of the ENORMOUS effort and practice it will have taken to reach this day.
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Can’t imagine many other air forces would have tried a flypast in the weather conditions. I reckon the guys and girls did a great job and it was a textbook decision from whoever was calling the shots.
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Surprised to see the Reds all appear to have a back seater in them on that film, I do hope it was the Blues.
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An honest question on why the fly-past was as it was is I think quite acceptable. But criticism from what can only be concluded as either non-aviators or non-formation flyers just displays a lack of knowledge and aviation intelligence. Well done to all in difficult conditions.
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And of course no-one wanted an accident or even an incident to spoil the great day
the fly past was a nice to have but the important thing was that the actual Coronation went off without a problem
the fly past was a nice to have but the important thing was that the actual Coronation went off without a problem
As others have said, the cockpit footage shows just how good a job they did.
If conditions were only suitable for a single formation of fast jets, RAFAT was the right choice. More familiar to the public, more closely associated with pageantry, and (most crucially) a lot easier to see against a murky grey background.
If conditions were only suitable for a single formation of fast jets, RAFAT was the right choice. More familiar to the public, more closely associated with pageantry, and (most crucially) a lot easier to see against a murky grey background.
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I wandered up to the Croydon Airport site (Roundshaw Downs) as the weather seemed to have lifted a little and arrived just after 2pm just as the next band of clag and drizzle/rain blew through - normally get quite a good view of London west of Westminster from maybe 300'. Couldn't actually see much clearly beyond the NW corner of the common, probably less than a mile. Looked at ADSB and saw the formations skedaddling back to their bases across Norfolk - good decision - and decided to head home myself! Actually vaguely saw the sun for a brief moment just before I got back.
Oh well.
Oh well.