The plane within the Royal Air Force fleet are spectacular, however witnessing the ability and professionalism of their pilots and crew in individual was awe-inspiring.
After clearing safety on the passenger terminal at RAF Brize Norton, we have been led to our aircraft for the journey forward.
Two C-130J Hercules lay ready on the tarmac – they’re arguably essentially the most acquainted of all RAF plane.
But they do take your breath away nonetheless, particularly when the propellers are turned on.
The Hercules planes have been introduced into service within the UK in 1999, however that is prone to be one among their ultimate journeys earlier than they’re retired.
We boarded one among them at round 11am – each have been about to work in tandem for a particular one-off coronation flypast rehearsal.
The pilots allowed us to spend nearly three hours with them within the cockpit plugged into their communications, with corresponding plane additionally collaborating within the observe occasion.
Once we might taken off, one of many crew made us a cup of tea on board as we cruised at 1,000ft.
We flew out off the coast of Norfolk at first, with the second Hercules cruising a couple of ft alongside us. This was the primary second of utter surrealism.
It cannot be overstated how uncommon it’s to see plane flying this shut collectively and this low. I might see the eyes of the opposite pilots. They flew like this, swapping sides sometimes for enjoyable, for about an hour.
Once at sea, we have been joined by an A400M plane which, for lack of technical converse, was monumental. This is their new toy, coming into operational service with the RAF in 2014.
We started to enter a tiered formation when it arrived as pilots throughout the three plane used their expertise, negotiation and eyesight to fly seamlessly alongside one another, which felt like nearly a whisker away.
We glided as a workforce at a a lot decrease altitude of round 500ft to observe the space they may fly at on 6 May.
Then extra plane started to affix the communications community and we immediately have been in a position to hear completely different voices of but extra pilots by our headphones.
We headed for RAF Cranwell, the situation for the observe flypast. A constructing on the positioning was getting used as a fake Buckingham Palace for the day for the plane to intention for.
As we approached, plane started becoming a member of forward and behind us, forming – what we might see forward – was a formidable show of navy precision.
We cruised at 500ft over RAF Cranwell, the headwind making it bumpy for us within the again however for the pilots there was unwavering focus and focus.
This is what they’re used to doing however squadron chief and commanding officer, Jim Rodon, says that even with 17 years of flying expertise, and having led the flypast for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, there may be nonetheless some stress connected to the gig.
“I suppose there is a unique pressure,” he tells me.
“We want to provide a fitting tribute to His Majesty; we are all very proud of the monarchy.
“We are used to stress, sure, however possibly barely completely different stress on operations, however I’d prefer to assume we’ve got been conditioned to ship and we’re excited to take action.”
The rehearsal was the primary and the final involving most of 60 plane on account of be concerned on the day in a flypast over The Mall.
The plane that can participate embody 16 helicopters, the historic Spitfires of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the F-35B Lightning jets.
If the view from the bottom is something just like the view from the skies, it’s going to be a feast for the eyes.
Source: information.sky.com”