Last Updated on June 13, 2026 by Allied Dispatch UK | Published: June 13, 2026
A spectacular formation of 31 military aircraft took to the skies over central London today to celebrate the Official Birthday of His Majesty King Charles III, concluding the traditional Trooping the Colour celebrations with a flawless display of precision aviation.
Favoured by beautiful, clear summer weather, the flypast over The Mall and Buckingham Palace showcased an impressive cross-section of modern and historic air power from eight different Royal Air Force stations across the United Kingdom.
Precision Timing and Command
The meticulous planning for the massive formation began in November of last year, culminating in a flawlessly synchronised display overseen by Mission Commander Wing Commander Hart, Officer Commanding 29 Squadron.
Precisely at 13:00 BST, the formation reached Buckingham Palace, flying over thousands of spectators and members of the Royal Family gathered on the palace balcony.
Formation Highlights & Milestones
The flypast was traditionally sequenced with slower assets leading the way, transitioning through heavy transport and intelligence platforms before a fast-jet finale:
- The Lead Element: “Onslaught Formation” from RAF Odiham led the display, featuring a Boeing Chinook HC5 with extended-range fuel tanks flanked by a pair of standard Chinook HC6/A helicopters.
- Historic Tribute: The sole historic airframe in the flypast, a Douglas Dakota III from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) based at RAF Coningsby, followed the helicopters wearing its striking South East Asia Command colours of 31 Squadron.
- Heavy Lift & Air Transport: Airframes from RAF Brize Norton took centre stage, led by an Airbus A400M Atlas C1 and a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III from 99 Squadron.
- Refuelling & Intelligence: An Airbus A330MRTT Voyager KC3 (“Vespina”) from 10/101 Squadron flew flanked by Eurofighter Typhoons. They were followed by a Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 from RAF Lossiemouth and a Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint from 51 Squadron at RAF Waddington.
- The Finale: A fierce quartet of Typhoons opened the fast-jet finale, clearing the way for the crowd-favourite conclusion: the Red Arrows flying in their iconic, full nine-ship Diamond Nine formation, leading four Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightnings from RAF Marham tucked tightly under trailing red, white, and blue smoke.
Celebrating Squadron Heritages
The 2026 flypast also served as a flying salute to significant milestones for several participating units:
- 3(F) Squadron (RAF Coningsby) celebrated its 115th anniversary.
- 51 Squadron (RAF Waddington) marked 110 years of service, flying the Rivet Joint.
- 207 Squadron (RAF Marham) also marked 110 years of loyal service, providing the F-35B Lightnings on the wing of the Red Arrows.
Air Vice-Marshal Jackson, Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group, noted the immense privilege of the event, stating that the flypast serves as a premier opportunity to honour His Majesty the King, the military’s Commander-in-Chief, while showcasing aircraft that have been actively deployed on global operations in recent months.