A FLYPAST due to take place after King Charles and Queen Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey has been scaled back due to weather conditions.
More than 60 planes were due to fly over the Mall and Buckingham Palace at around 2.30pm following the ceremony.
Why has the flypast been scaled back?
The flypast has been scalded back due to the weather and will now be formed of helicopters and The Red Arrows, the Ministry of Defence said.
Rainy weather forecast across the capital could hamper the ability of pilots to fly safely, the Ministry of Defence said.
The Red Arrows told ITV news that they will be "waiting until the last minute" to decide if it's safe to take to the skies.
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A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence spokesman said prior to coronation day: “There are certain weather limits in terms of cloud base and visibility for a flypast involving a large number of aircraft which will need to be met.
“The latest weather information will be obtained from both the Met Office and from our helicopters performing weather checks in advance of the main flypast on Saturday.
“If suitable, the flypast will continue as planned. If not, then there are options available to reduce the numbers of aircraft, with cancellation being the last resort.
“Clearly there are many things the MoD does control, but the weather is not one of them.
“Safety will always be our primary concern.”
What is the meaning of a flypast?
Flypasts are often tied in with royal or state events such as anniversaries or celebrations - and occasionally funerary or memorial occasions.
In the UK they are regularly featured in public and ceremonial life where they function as a particular kind of aerial salute.
They serve to show respect, display the aircraft, and showcase flying skills.
What aircraft do the RAF use?
The current featured aircraft used by the RAF include:
- The Red Arrows
- 16 Helicopters
- Spitfires (Battle of Britain Memorial Flight)
- Hurricanes (Battle of Britain Memorial Flight)
- Avro Lancaster (Battle of Britain Memorial Flight)
- C47 Dakota (Battle of Britain Memorial Flight)
- Chipmunk Aircraft (Battle of Britain Memorial Flight)
- P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft
- F-35B Lightning II jets
- RAF transport aircraft
- Envoy IV CC1 aircraft
Will there be a RAF flypast for King Charles' Coronation?
Yes, there will be a flypast by the Royal Air Force for the King.
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The planned schedule for the day will see the Coronation of King Charles and the Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey.
The royals will then return to Buckingham Palace where the King will appear on the Palace balcony along with other royals to watch the flypast.
More than 60 aircraft were expected to take part in the six-minute display, including the Red Arrows, historic spitfires and a 16-aircraft helicopter formation.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace promised the display would be “spectacular”, but it has had to be scaled back due to weather conditions.
The flypast is now expected to only last for two minutes and 30 seconds.
It will be joined by nearly 400 armed forces personnel who will be on parade to mark the special event.
What time is the flypast for King Charles' Coronation?
The Coronation flypast will take place over The Mall and Buckingham Palace at 2.30pm on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
This is subject to weather, serviceability, and operational commitments.
How can I watch the Coronation flypast?
King Charles' Coronation will be televised live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The flypast route will span numerous counties, each with a general time zone of when people will be able to look to the skies and see the show.
The areas are:
Area A: North Sea and Norfolk Coast, 1.15pm-3pm
Area B: Norfolk (Thetford) and Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds), 1.45pm-3pm
Area C: Suffolk (Ipswich), 2pm-3pm
Area D: Essex (Colchester, Chelmsford), 2pm-2.45pm
Area E: London, 2.10pm-2.45pm
Area F: London (Croydon) and Surrey, 2.20pm-3pm
Area G: Berkshire (Reading), Wiltshire (Swindon) and Oxfordshire (Oxford), 2.20pm-3pm
Area H: Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, 2.20pm-3pm
Area I: Wiltshire (Marlborough, Tidworth), 2.20pm-3pm
Due to security reasons, the exact timings and routes will not be publicly revealed.
However, you can track the aircraft on the day using Flightradar24.
