Heads up - Central London 15/3 12:20

[CharlieCrocodile]

http://londonist.com/2015/03/look-out-for-a-milita...

Keep your eyes on the sky this Friday 13 March — eight military aircraft will fly over London to mark six months since the closing of Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. Look up around 12.20pm to see “two Chinooks, two Apache helicopters, one Sea King MK4, one C-130-J Hercules and two GR4 Tornados”.

The aerial spectacle will fly south to north, heading right over St Paul’s Cathedral where the Queen and other senior royals will attend a commemoration service. A military parade will also make its way between the cathedral and Guildhall.

[RobbyJ]

Ohh perfect, I'm in our Victoria Embankment office on Friday morning and have to head back to the city at that time, I predict a long lunch..........

Thanks for the tip

[truck71]

The group of helicopters was flying over the south downs near Arundel this afternoon. Was surprised to see a sea king.

[ecsrobin]

truck71 said:

The group of helicopters was flying over the south downs near Arundel this afternoon. Was surprised to see a sea king.

why the surprise?

[Eric Mc]

I hope the Russians don't attack on the 15th as the whole of the RAF is engaged in this flypast.

[truck71]

ecsrobin said:

why the surprise?

I thought they'd been retired or was that the search and rescue ones?

[ecsrobin]

truck71 said:

ecsrobin said:

why the surprise?

I thought they'd been retired or was that the search and rescue ones?

The Search and Rescue (SAR) aircraft are still in operation within the UK and Falklands and are slowly being replaced with a Bristow contract providing AW189 and S92 helicopters. Which should be complete by 2016/17 The Falklands I'm unsure on its replacement.

As for the commando helicopter force (CHF) they currently use seakings alongside other aircraft and are converting to the merlin Mk4 and should be completed by 2017.

[ninja-lewis]

ecsrobin said:

The Search and Rescue (SAR) aircraft are still in operation within the UK and Falklands and are slowly being replaced with a Bristow contract providing AW189 and S92 helicopters. Which should be complete by 2016/17 The Falklands I'm unsure on its replacement.

As for the commando helicopter force (CHF) they currently use seakings alongside other aircraft and are converting to the merlin Mk4 and should be completed by 2017.

Falkland Islands Support Helicopter and SAR contract went to AAR Airlift and British International Helicopters earlier this year. AW189s in the SAR role and S-61s for the Support Helicopters.

Not to be confused with the 3 Bristow S92s already down there to support the Oil and Gas exploration, including dedicated SAR cover.

[ecsrobin]

ninja-lewis said:

Falkland Islands Support Helicopter and SAR contract went to AAR Airlift and British International Helicopters earlier this year. AW189s in the SAR role and S-61s for the Support Helicopters.

Not to be confused with the 3 Bristow S92s already down there to support the Oil and Gas exploration, including dedicated SAR cover.

Cheers for that info, S92s fly from Stanley don't they? I'm surprised that Brintel aren't replacing the S61s as they're certainly getting old and tired.

[Alpha97]

Taken me 15 mins to walk here, let's hope it goes ahead!

[yellowjack]

Ah!

That explains the Sea King flanked by a pair of Chinooks that flew over Farnborough a little while ago, seemingly headed toward Odiham following (roughly) the M3 south from that there Londinium...

[RobbyJ]

I was there a took a video of the fly past on my iPhone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5krhjIem-0

[RobGT81]

Shame there's no Harriers to take part

[ecsrobin]

RobGT81 said:

Shame there's no Harriers to take part

Missing a lot of aircraft, Lynx, puma, merlin, C17 plus waddo based aircraft.

[RobbyJ]

Yeah I really wanted to see a C17 fly over, I've not seen one over London before. The closest I've seen to London is when they extradited Captain Hook off to Jordan!

[ditchvisitor]

ecsrobin said:

RobGT81 said:

Shame there's no Harriers to take part

Missing a lot of aircraft, Lynx, puma, merlin, C17 plus waddo based aircraft.

Indeed! We managed a pair of Merlins through the London heli lanes slightly later on in the afternoon after a scenic tour down to the East, was a lovely day for it!

[ecsrobin]

ditchvisitor said:

Indeed! We managed a pair of Merlins through the London heli lanes slightly later on in the afternoon after a scenic tour down to the East, was a lovely day for it!

You probably weren't invited as they knew you'd go U/S