Escorted Jets over London 24 Apr 2012?

[mrmr96]

Just seen two (what looked like) jumbo jets flying over London, each one being escorted by (what looked like) a fighter jet off each wing. Anyone else see that?

ETA, the time was about 17:45 on 24/4/12.
ETA2, could have been jets refuelling, but why do that over London?

[mrmr96]

Lots about it on twitter too:
https://twitter.com/#!/search/jets%20london

There were two jets, each with a pair of fighters. (6 aircraft total).

Is this Olympics training or is some st going down today?

[Ozzie Osmond]

Is it Boeing showing off their new 787 dreamliner?

(Big twin-engined composite body passenger jet)

[scenario8]

President Obama taking promotional photos?

[mrmr96]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Is it Boeing showing off their new 787 dreamliner?

(Big twin-engined composite body passenger jet)

Two of them? Being followed by fighters?!

[JonnyFive]

AWACS by the looks of it..

[Eric Mc]

Code : QWALW Air display - Will take place
Traffic : IV

E) MIL FORMATION ACFT FLYPAST 512958N 0000717W (WESTMINSTER, HOUSE OF
COMMONS). ROUTING 522848N 0014606E (1620), 512706N 0002312E (1640),
512718N 0015000E (1641), 512958N 0000717W (WESTMINSTER, HOUSE OF
COMMONS)(1645), 513618N 0000148W (1648), 520600N 0000202W (1705).

Rehearsal for Queen's Birthday.

[mrmr96]

Found this photo on twitter:

[jumplead]

Potentially something to do with the House of Commons All-Party Parliamentary Group welcome home reception for personnel deployed on Op ELLAMY (Libya) currently taking place at House of Commons.

ETA: Confirmation from MOD: As part of Op Ellamy (Libya) homecoming, 1 Sentry E3D, 2 Typhoons, 1 Sentinel & 2 Tornado GR4s will fly S-N over Parliament at 1745.

The picture you posted was of a BAe146 and 2 BAe125s from RAF 32 Royal Squadron, looks like it was unrelated if they were also in flight today.

Edited by jumplead on Tuesday 24th April 18:53

[hornet]

Just had two WWII fighters flying over Watford. No idea exactly what they were, but heading out of London. Nice.

[audidoody]

Flew over my house (N6) at 5:45pm. Hell of a noise. Incredible sight.

[anonymous-user]

Saw the WW2 planes near White Waltham airfield, Maidenhead, guess thay were the same ones

[Snoggledog]

Jimboka said:

Saw the WW2 planes near White Waltham airfield, Maidenhead, guess thay were the same ones

IIRC they live up at Booker.

[Extra 300 Driver]

I think the RVP for the formations is Borham Airfield in Essex. I was looking around the Police HQ there and loads of jets went right overhead at about 700'. Nice sight.

[mrmr96]

Cheers for the info chaps - nothing to worry about then.

(Must admit, seeing the escorted 'jumbo's and the fire, whose cause was unknown at the time, raised a little concern yesterday afternoon!)