Aircraft from across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force took part in a spectacular flypast for The King’s Birthday Parade, marking the first Birthday Flypast for His Majesty King Charles III.
70 aircraft took to the skies above the crowds on The Mall and over Buckingham Palace watched on by Their Majesties’ The King and Queen, alongside other Members of The Royal Family.
The aircraft from 15 different locations across the UK joined up across the south-east of England before flying across the capital.
“We are very proud to be able to showcase our capabilities to our Commander-in-Chief, on this historic occasion for His Majesty The King.
“We provided a fitting and appropriate tribute for our monarch, that was a true spectacle for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth."
Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton
Chief of the Air Staff
The event featured a mix of aircraft ranging from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight dating back to the 1940’s, the C-130 Hercules on its final ceremonial flight before retiring from service, to multiple Typhoon fighter jet aircraft and the Envoy IV CC1, making its flypast debut.
At the front of the flypast was a Juno HT1 piloted by Flight Lieutenant Tom Knapp from 60 Squadron, No.1 Flying Training School based at RAF Shawbury. The event culminated in a spectacular show of red, white and blue from the pilots of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows who were joined by the RAF’s newest aircraft, the Envoy.
A similar sized flypast was planned for The King’s Coronation in May but was scaled down due to poor weather conditions. Therefore, this Birthday flypast was increased in size to pay tribute to the new Monarch.
“It is a great honour to be part of His Majesty the King’s Birthday celebrations, where the Flypast is an opportunity for us to showcase formation precision and excellence in the air, to our Commander-in-Chief on this special occasion.
"The flypast consisted of rotary assets from all three Services, training aircraft from No.22 Group, in addition to No.1 Group aircraft from the Air Mobility, ISTAR and Combat Air Forces. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight reflected our proud heritage, and there was also be a special ‘Signature Formation’ to honour His Majesty the King, immediately prior to the iconic Red Arrows.”
Air Vice-Marshal Mark Flewin
Air Officer Commanding 1 Group
The aircraft of the Armed Forces have a long and proud history of taking part in this occasion, with the first King’s Birthday Flypast taking place in 1913 and most recently formed part of Their Majesties’ Coronation in May and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee last year.
Many of the aircraft taking part in the flypast have been actively involved in operations around the world this year including the NATO Air Policing mission in Eastern Europe and the evacuation of British Citizens from Sudan.
The King’s Birthday Flypast concluded Trooping the Colour which took place on Horse Guards Parade, a ceremony dating back to the reign of King Charles II, becoming an annual event in 1760. This year The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards Trooped their Colour in the presence of His Majesty The King.
