QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE MUSTER AND FLYPAST
Windsor Castle, 19th May 2012
Simon Fenwick reviews the event from The Long Walk
All photography by Simon Fenwick
All photography by Simon Fenwick
Celebrating HM Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years of reign, there were to be many events around the country during 2012. Some of those might be small local events whilst others would involve major pageantry culminating in the four day Jubilee Weekend at the beginning of June.
That weekend would include The Queen visiting Epsom Downs for the Derby, an incredible 1000 boats on the river for the Thames Pageant, a star-studded concert in front of Buckingham Palace and finishing up with a Thanksgiving Service, Carriage Ride and Balcony Appearance.
That weekend would include The Queen visiting Epsom Downs for the Derby, an incredible 1000 boats on the river for the Thames Pageant, a star-studded concert in front of Buckingham Palace and finishing up with a Thanksgiving Service, Carriage Ride and Balcony Appearance.
One of the first major events of the Jubilee Celebrations was a huge Muster by all branches of the Armed Services. Topped and tailed by one of the largest flypasts seen in many years, more than 2400 members of The Royal Navy, The Army and Royal Air Force commenced their march past from The Long Walk before parading through the town before gathering in front of The Queen in a specially built arena outside the Castle. This included a moving Drumhead Service and salute to Her Majesty.
Beginning the proceedings on the dot of 1100hrs were nine Eurofighter Typhoons from The Royal Air Force at Conningsby in Lincolnshire. Formed in an immaculate Diamond Nine formation this provided a dramatic opening to the day's events.
It is rare indeed for flypasts of this nature to take place over this part of the country. Usually, they happen over The Mall and Buckingham Palace in central London and indeed there will be two further flypasts at that location this year at the end of the Jubilee Weekend itself and in mid June on the Queen's Official Birthday Parade.. However, The Long Walk provided a perfect location for this event.
The Long Walk stretches for some two and a half miles from King George IV Gateway to Snow Hill in Windsor Great Park which is surmounted by 'The Copper Horse'. This is a statue of George III on horseback and was commissioned by his son.
Shortly before 1225 on what was a very hazy day, the massive crowds gathered the length and breadth of The Long Walk and on Snow Hill started to hear an unmistakable sound in the distance and then appearing slightly to the east of the hill was the first element of the flypast itself.
This first section comprised twelve helicopters from the RAF, Army Air Corps and Fleet Air Arm.
The RAF provided a Merlin HC.3 and Puma HC.1 from RAF Benson, one of the famous Search & Rescue Sea King HAR.3s and a Chinook HC.2 from RAF Odiham. The Army Air Corps sent an Apache AH.1, Bell 212, Lynx AH.7 and Gazelle AH.1. Bringing up the rear was the Fleet Air Arm with Sea King HC.4, Sea King ASaC7, Merlin HM.1 and Lynx HMA.8
The first element of the fixed wing types was provided by the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby with the Avro Lancaster I leading a formation of four Supermarine Spiftires covering almost the entire history of this iconic aircraft. These were Type IIA P7350, Vb AB910, IX MK356 and PR.XIX PM631.
Next there was the first of the very special formations put together by the RAF for this event.
A flight of 20 Shorts Tucano T.1s from RAF Linton-on-Ouse overflew with lights blazing in a perfect '60' formation and drew the first of several rounds of applause and cheers from the crowd. This formation was unique to Windsor and will not be seen again.
Next to appear over 'The Copper Horse' were a pair of Lockheed Martin C130Js from RAF Brize Norton in a very tight line astern formation.
They were followed by a Brize Norton based VC-10 trailing its refuelling drogues with a Panavia Tornado GR.4 on each wing. This was a now rare opportunity to see the graceful VC-10 and with it soon to be replaced in service by the new Voyager AAR Tanker, possibly one of the final times it would be seen.
The penultimate element comprised 27 Hawk T.1s and T.2s in a perfect 'EIIR' formation and drew another very appreciative reaction from the crowd - and as could be seen from the TV screens, was greatly appreciated by The Queen as well. While the 'E' and 'R' were formed by the RAF, the 'II' was made up of Hawks from the Fleet Air Arm.
This formation will be seen again this year at The Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford.
This formation will be seen again this year at The Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford.
The final part of the formation was the world famous RAF Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows.
During 2012, The Reds are only displaying with seven aircraft rather than their usual nine following the tragic events of last year when two pilots were lost. However, the team have promised that for flypasts, they will still use the full formation and this they did at Windsor. Usually their flypasts are made in what they call 'Battle' Formation which presents a chevron in the sky. For Windsor they had devised something which this reviewer has not seen the team do before. This was a three dimensional 'Diamond Nine' so that the formation could also be seen as they approached as well as when they flew overhead.
As is often the case, they drew the biggest cheer of the day which rose to even greater volume as the red, white and blue smoke came on. A sign of the genuine affection which is held for the team.
This brought the events of the first major Jubilee Celebration to a close.
While it may not have contained the largest number of aircraft - nothing will ever beat the Coronation flypast of 1953 at RAF Odiham which had a staggering 641 aircraft in the flypast and a further 318 on the ground on static display - but the crowd seemed well pleased with the spectacle and of course the skill of the pilots in the special formations was outstanding.
Most important perhaps, the person for whom it was actually organised also seemed to really appreciate the effort which had gone into it.
