King Charles III’s Flypast Celebration Set to Dazzle the UK in June 2024

On May 6, 2023, Charles III was crowned King in a momentous coronation that captivated millions worldwide in the United Kingdom (UK). To commemorate this grand occasion, a spectacular flypast involving 68 aircraft was originally planned to honor the newly crowned King at Buckingham Palace in London. However, due to heavy rain, the flypast was scaled down to just a few helicopters and the legendary Red Arrows squadron.

But fear not, the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force are determined to make it up to the new King. On June 17, 2023, King Charles III will celebrate his official birthday with the renowned Trooping the Colour parade. This age-old tradition dates back to the 17th century and will feature over 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians. What’s more, this year’s flypast will be a breathtaking display with 70 aircraft, taking off from 15 different locations across the UK, uniting over the south-east of England, and flying across the capital.

The flypast will include a diverse range of aircraft, from historic gems like the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to modern marvels like the C-130 Hercules on its final ceremonial flight before retirement. The event promises to be a true spectacle, paying a fitting and appropriate tribute to the monarch.

The flypast is scheduled to start at 1 pm UK time on Saturday, June 17, 2024, and will last for approximately six minutes. While the exact route is kept under wraps for security reasons, the aircraft will take off from various air stations across the UK, coming together in formation to fly down The Mall over Buckingham Palace.

For aviation enthusiasts and well-wishers hoping to catch a glimpse of the aircraft, the areas they are most likely to be visible from during takeoff include:

• Area A: North Sea and Norfolk Coast
• Area B: Thetford, Norfolk, and Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
• Area C: Ipswich, Suffolk
• Area D: Colchester and Chelmsford, Essex
• Area E: London
• Area F: Croydon, London, and Surrey
• Area G: Reading, Berkshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, and Oxford, Oxfordshire
• Area H: Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire
• Area I: Marlborough, Tidworth, Wiltshire

The flypast will showcase a remarkable array of aircraft from different waves:

Wave One

• 3x Juno HT1 helicopters

Wave Two

• 1x Wildcat Mark 2 helicopter
• 2x Merlin Mark 2 helicopters

Wave Three

• 1x Wildcat Mark 1 helicopter
• 4x Apache helicopters

Wave Four

• 1x Wildcat Mark 1 helicopter
• 2x Merlin Mark 4 helicopters

Wave Five

• 3x Chinook helicopters
• 1x Puma HC2 helicopter

Wave Six

• 1x Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
• 1x Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
• 2x Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Wave Seven

• 1x Phenom T1
• 4x Texan T1

Wave Eight

• 3x C-130J Hercules

Wave Nine

• 1x C-17 Globemaster

Wave Ten

• 1x Voyager
• 1x A400M Atlas

Wave Eleven

• 1x Poseidon MRA1
• 2x Typhoon FGR4

Wave Twelve

• 6x F-35B Lightning

Wave Thirteen

• 18x Typhoon FGR4

Wave Fourteen

• 1x Envoy IV CC1
• 9x Hawk – The Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team (The Red Arrows)

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton expressed great pride in showcasing the UK’s capabilities on this historic occasion, ensuring a momentous spectacle for King Charles III, the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth.

This flypast promises to be a truly awe-inspiring event, celebrating King Charles III’s reign with splendor and grandeur.