You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
i dont know if this has been done but a gentle remidner if folk are out and about in london
![]()
![]()
I've bought my big camera into the office and everything.
If I'm lucky, they will pass the office framed by the Gherkin and the Leadenhall building.
Although, at the moment there's a lot of cloud - might not be able to see a thing...
Am working from home this morning, not sure I'll be able to see from Zone 3 north. Shame, if I was going in they'd go right over head....!
No big camera but based in Farringdon and our office is letting us on to the roof area, so hopefully should be able to see them fly over st.pauls (weather permitting)
I was just amazed to hear hat the RAF could get 100 aircraft together
Have they borrowed some off the 'mericans?
Living 100 miles from London I dont suppose I will see much
Living 100 miles from London I dont suppose I will see much
Unless that 100 miles is in the direction of Ipswich, then no, probably not.
I'm 5 mins walk from the Mall so I guess I should go and have a look.
Will the gang of V-22 Ospreys that I saw yesterday make an appearance?
They must have been having a mini rehearsal yesterday , I thought we were under attack for a moment!!
"Rivet Joint"
when all the good names have already been taken.
I can't wait. I'm no royalist by any means but I have respect for our armed forces and the RAF . What was achieved in aviation terms was remarkable. What was then achieved in combat terms , which I must say I hope never comes to it again , completely changed how warfare was carried out. I'm really looking forward to the fly past.
Controversial post warning:
Disclaimer I'm an RAF brat, and spent a good proportion of my childhood being shunted around the world.
I think RAF has achieved amazing things in its history, but by far and away the best thing it does is self promotion. If the army decided to drive a fleet of tanks and vehicles up the Mall there would be comparisons made to 3rd World regimes. It needs to give some of its planes to the Navy and the rest of the helicopters to the army, and some of the other fast jets, and it would be one less thing the MOD would have to argue about
It needs to give some of its planes to the Navy and the rest of the helicopters to the army, and some of the other fast jets, and it would be one less thing the MOD would have to argue about
I have absolutely no idea what you're on about.
I can see St Paul's from my (Southbank) office, but thought I'd wander down to the river, wondering if it'll be absolutely mental, or one of things a lot of people have over looked.
njee20 .... I reckon you've got that as about as wrong as you possible could .... 🙂
Surely most people will be "under looking it"
Not sure I've ever been block by other people to look up to the sky.
Good luck ... not sure you'll need it
It needs to give some of its planes to the Navy and the rest of the helicopters to the army, and some of the other fast jets, and it would be one less thing the MOD would have to argue about
I have absolutely no idea what you’re on about.
I can see St Paul’s from my (Southbank) office, but thought I’d wander down to the river, wondering if it’ll be absolutely mental, or one of things a lot of people have over looked.
He might be saying we should ditch the tri-service model - which is an argument that isn't entirely without validity.
*troll mode on* Seeing as the Navy know how to conduct fast jet ops better and the Army can fly Helis better *troll mode off* 😀
Im not sure that the Ospreys are part of it?
sorry image from the express

I wondered if the ospreys were preparinf for a 'last days in saigon' evactuation of teh PM as brexit went tits up
Just wait until the Gammons realise that another name for 'Typhoon FGR4' is 'Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4'.
But then they'll probably think it is designed to fight the Euro baddies....
There's a bit of a flaw in the idea that the RAF might be flying Ospreys today - they don't have any
Or Apaches.
They used to have some Harriers but they weren't shiny shiny enough so they sent them to the charity shop.
It's a shame they can't whizz a Vulcan or a Mossie down The Mall anymore.
yes, I was being silly - they were doing some reccy work around N London and near the US Ambassador's residence yesterday and wondered if they might join in.
Several Spitfires and Hurricanes...plus the F-35 which is surprisingly quiet.
It's a shame that we didn't have a couple of airworthy English Electric Lightnings being given some beans.
Yeah sorry, hurried posting ..
I reckon the tri service model is outdated, the RAF operates Chinooks for example (almost exclusively with the army) solely on the basis of the fact that Chinooks are large.
The navy should have the fast jet and early warning role
The logistics corps should be have the (air) transport role
that was pretty cool!
the typhoons in the 100 formation were very impressive!
Typhoons in the 100, the Lightnings were the 3 ahead of them.
Agreed it was good, and I was able to sidle down to the riverside at 12:45 for a total unhindered view, which was nice.
The big planes came directly overhead in Farnham - Hercules, Globemaster, Atlas and a few others - perhaps on their way to Odiham?
Also heard some other noises off but couldn't see anything, and potentially could have been from F'boro with it being airshow next week. And also some helicoptering, but again off to the side so no views.
I don't know how to do a fancy link but this RAF graphic of the holding patterns and formation is wonderful.
Did i hear what i thought i heard after the 1st round of rifle volleys?? expletive followed by apology on the tele?
Nice bit of self promo by the RAF. gets me in the mood for Fairford next week
Made the decision to move from the office and head to Aldgate. It was a bit hard to see from between the canyons in the city, but got a few shots off. Wouldn't have seen a thing from the office so good decision.
Missed the Lightnings (too quick 🙂 )
impressive, I got some pics (silhouettes) from the Mall which I'll try to share
I watched it from my bathroom window in Crystal Palace so they were obviously miles away but then the chinooks and the smaller helicopters came directly overhead on their way back. Not sure where they were headed? Not bothered about the spitfire as I see them all the time when I cycle round biggin hill.
The helicopters split off one way to get out the way of the faster aircraft, likewise the slow older stuff, transport and fast jet stuff all went different ways once they had completed the flypast so they can get back up to speed/height to get out of there.
Managed to catch it from a bridge in South London, the Typhoons had changed from the 100 formation by then - watching the single seat fighters race across the sky like a gaggle of angry wasps towards the south coast reminded me of what it must have been like to watch fighters scramble during the Battle of Britain.
Near Didcot I heard a lot of noise at the right time for the big stuff heading back to Brize and Fairford. Didn't get the chance to pop my head out the window.
One of my best mates flying the chinook today, and an old Squadron buddy Captain of the Dakota.
Theres a very good reason the Navy & Army aren’t in charge of Air Power. It’s such a specialism. If any single service is past its sell-by date it’s the Navy. Outsource them to DFDS. That idea will certainly make the “senior service” spit out their cornflakes!!
Down here in deepest Surrey we had the 6 chinooks with another 6-7 choppers fly over this afternoon heading south. Quite a noise from the Chinooks.
It needs to give some of its planes to the Navy and the rest of the helicopters to the army, and some of the other fast jets
Explain how an RAF jet could be operated off of a carrier, please. And the Army fly practically all the helicopters, I can’t think of any RAF bases that fly exclusively choppers, the air-sea rescue rôle once fell to coastal stations like Chivenor, but it’s a civilian coast guard system now. All of the choppers that fly around here come from army bases on Salisbury Plain.
CZ - you obviously haven’t been to RAF Odiham it RAF Benson then! (PumaHC2 & Chinook)
The Navy were given all the Merlin a few years back - I believe it was part of a deal for them to support the SuperPuma & Chinook upgrade programmes.
The Army fly Apaches, but nearly all troop movements on land are in RAF Support Helicopters ie Puma/Chinook
Yep, CountZero needs to google RAF Benson.
One of my best mates flying the chinook today, and an old Squadron buddy Captain of the Dakota.
Theres a very good reason the Navy & Army aren’t in charge of Air Power. It’s such a specialism. If any single service is past its sell-by date it’s the Navy. Outsource them to DFDS. That idea will certainly make the “senior service” spit out their cornflakes!!
Pfffft - air power has little staying power and limited range.
Explain how an RAF jet could be operated off of a carrier, please.
Exactly as they are now, by buying B or C model Lightnings. I'm sure the Navy would be happy to take over what little airfields the RAF have left and put RNAS and HMS in front of the names 😀
Having said that, the idea of disbanding the RAF is mostly total bollocks.
One half decent shot...
That raf graphic was lovely. I was trying to imagine how they time it all to arrive but the distances involved are amazing
Theres a very good reason the Navy & Army aren’t in charge of Air Power. It’s such a specialism. If any single service is past its sell-by date it’s the Navy. Outsource them to DFDS. That idea will certainly make the “senior service” spit out their cornflakes!!
Totally, the RAF should take over running the subs. It’s just flying underwater innit!
I was just amazed to hear hat the RAF could get 100 aircraft together
Have they borrowed some off the ‘mericans?
This made me giggle.
We watched it on the TV then dashed outside to the '100' formation and the Red Arrows fly over the airfield (Heathrow).
Another one of my old mates was in the Telegraph too . Sqn Ldr Mike Waring - 4 th generation RAF pilot. We lived together at Leeds Uni & joined the RAF on the same day. Top bloke.
Down here in deepest Surrey we had the 6 chinooks with another 6-7 choppers fly over this afternoon heading south. Quite a noise from the Chinooks.
They went right over my workplace, in Guildford, setting several car alarms off!
D'oh
So I got that wrong I saw the Ospreys and thought they might be part of it. Love different aircraft but I'm not up to date on ownership!
Never seen an Osprey in the flesh before so that was a nice treat even if I missed the main event.
Sopwith Camels are what would ice the cake... 🙂
Sopwith Camels are what would ice the cake…
Do any still exist in flyable condition? I would LOVE to see one fly!