RAF Northolt’s Communications Officer, Sqn Ldr James Tenniswood, outlines plans for the 100 aircraft flypast on Tuesday 10th July, in celebration of the RAF’s centenary year.
The flypast will enter London from the east, fly along The Mall, then split up into 9 packets of aircraft which will exit London over Hendon, Heathrow and the South West of London.
In London, the best place to view the entire flypast will be at The Mall, or just behind Buckingham Palace, somewhere like Eaton Square Gardens. If you want to see the aircraft that will exit over Hillingdon, the best, and only view will be just North of Heathrow; Harlington, Sipson and Harmondsworth areas. Aircraft from the flypast may be visible along the lower border with Ealing and the M4, and along the eastern edge of Harrow, east of the A5.
Unfortunately the aircraft will not exit over RAF Northolt or it surrounds. This is because, unlike the Queen’s Birthday Flypast, which is much smaller and usually flies out over RAF Northolt in order to avoid Heathrow airspace, this flypast, with up to 100 aircraft, will see Heathrow’s airspace closed and cleared; thus nearly all the traffic will travel out over Heathrow and to the south of Heathrow.
We will put out any updates on the RAF Northolt Twitter and Facebook channels. Of course the Flypast, and the parade, will be broadcast on BBC One on the day.