VE Day Flypast – 23 Aircraft Honour 80th Anniversary Over London
On Monday, central London hummed with anticipation as VE Day celebrations kicked off outside Parliament Square, commemorating 80 years since Victory in Europe. D-Day veteran Alan Kennett, joined by air cadet officers, signaled the start of a vibrant procession featuring over 1,300 members of the UK Armed Forces, uniformed services, and youth groups. Led by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, the march traced a historic route—past the Cenotaph, under Admiralty Arch, and down the Mall to Buckingham Palace. This grand display set the stage for a stunning flypast, as 23 aircraft prepared to roar overhead in tribute to a defining moment in history.
As the procession reached its peak, the sky above Buckingham Palace erupted into a five-minute spectacle that showcased the RAF’s past and present. For the crowds below—families waving flags and aviation enthusiasts alike—it was a thrilling nod to May 8, 1945, when World War II in Europe ended and peace took hold.
The streets of central London buzzed with energy on Monday as VE Day celebrations kicked off outside Parliament Square. Just after noon, D-Day veteran Alan Kennett, flanked by air cadet officers, gave the signal to launch a grand procession. Over 1,300 members of the UK Armed Forces, uniformed services, and youth organisations stepped off, led by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery. Their route traced a path steeped in history—past the Cenotaph, through Trafalgar Square, under Admiralty Arch, and down the Mall to the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace. It was a fitting prelude to the day’s main event: a jaw-dropping flypast that would see 23 aircraft fill the skies, marking 80 years since Victory in Europe Day.
As the procession reached Buckingham Palace, all eyes turned upward for a five-minute aerial display that blended the past and present of the Royal Air Force. This wasn’t just any flypast—it was a tribute to the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945, a day when the guns fell silent and peace began to take root. For the thousands gathered below, from aviation buffs with encyclopedic knowledge to families waving flags, it was a chance to witness history in motion. The RAF had pulled out all the stops, assembling a lineup that spanned decades, from a rumbling Lancaster bomber to the sleek, stealthy F-35B Lightning. What followed was a masterclass in aviation heritage and modern might, delivered with a dash of flair that kept everyone hooked.
Victory in Europe Day holds a special place in the UK’s collective memory. It’s the moment when, after six brutal years, the Allied forces declared victory over Nazi Germany in Europe. Church bells rang, street parties erupted, and a war-weary nation exhaled. Fast forward 80 years, and the celebrations have evolved, but the sentiment remains. This year’s events in London leaned hard into that legacy, with the procession and flypast serving as twin pillars of remembrance. The march through the capital wasn’t just ceremonial—it retraced routes that echoed with jubilation in 1945. And the flypast? That was the RAF’s way of saying, “We’ve come a long way, but we haven’t forgotten.”
The flypast unfolded in six waves, each a chapter in the RAF’s story. First up was the Avro Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a four-engine icon that rumbled over London like a ghost from 1945. One of only two still flying worldwide, this beast was the backbone of Bomber Command during the war, dropping payloads over enemy territory in missions that were as daring as they were dangerous. Its Merlin engines growled with a sound that’s pure nostalgia for anyone who knows their stuff—and for those who don’t, it’s still impossible to ignore. Trailing behind its broad wings came the RAF Voyager and A400M Atlas, a duo that couldn’t look more different from their predecessor. The Voyager, a modified Airbus A330, is the RAF’s refuelling lifeline, keeping jets airborne on long-haul ops. The A400M, with its rugged frame and massive props, is a heavy-lift workhorse, capable of dropping paratroopers or hauling gear into war zones. Together, they showed off the RAF’s logistical muscle, a far cry from the Lancaster’s wartime grit.
Next in line was the C-17 Globemaster, a giant that dwarfed everything before it. This long-range hauler can lug tanks, helicopters, or 100-plus troops across continents, and its sheer bulk made it a crowd favourite. You don’t need to be an aviation nerd to appreciate the engineering that keeps something that size aloft—it’s a flying warehouse with wings. The fourth wave shifted gears, blending surveillance and raw power. The P-8 Poseidon, a maritime patrol aircraft, rolled through the sky, its sleek fuselage hiding tech designed to hunt submarines and patrol coastlines. Flanking it were two Typhoon FGR4s, the RAF’s multi-role fighters that can dogfight, strike ground targets, and look good doing it. Their delta wings and throaty engines screamed agility, a reminder that the RAF doesn’t just move stuff—it dominates the battlespace.
The fifth wave cranked up the intrigue with the RC-135 Rivet Joint, a signals intelligence platform that’s all about eavesdropping on the enemy. Packed with sensors and crewed by specialists, it’s the RAF’s ears in the sky, gathering data that shapes missions. On either side flew two F-35B Lightnings, the UK’s stealthy new toys. These fifth-generation fighters are a leap forward—vertical Landing, radar-evading skin, and enough firepower to tackle anything. Spotting them was a thrill for the gearheads in the crowd; their angular lines and quiet menace are the stuff of modern aviation legend. Then came the finale, and the RAF saved the best for last. The Red Arrows, flying their nine Hawk T1 jets, swooped in with four more Typhoons, painting the sky with red, white, and blue smoke. The Arrows are precision incarnate, their tight formations a testament to years of practice. Paired with the Typhoons’ raw power, it was a closing act that left jaws on the ground and phones pointed skyward.
Every plane in that lineup carried a story. The Lancaster’s roots are pure World War II—over 7,000 were built, and they flew more than 156,000 sorties, pounding strategic targets and turning the tide. Its crews faced insane odds; fewer than half survived their tours. Seeing it fly today is a salute to them, a living relic that still packs an emotional punch. The Voyager and A400M, meanwhile, are the RAF’s modern backbone. The Voyager’s mid-air refuelling keeps missions alive—think Typhoons staying aloft over Iraq or Afghanistan. The A400M’s versatility shines in crises, like when it hauled aid to disaster zones or evacuated civilians under fire. The C-17’s been a globetrotter too, from troop drops in the Middle East to mercy flights during floods. These aren’t museum pieces—they’re tools of a force that’s always on call.
The Poseidon’s a newer face, joining the RAF in 2019 to replace the Nimrod. It’s a sub-killer with a side of search-and-rescue, bristling with sonobuoys and radar that can spot a periscope from miles out. The Typhoons, around since 2003, are the RAF’s Swiss Army knives—fast, adaptable, and armed to the teeth with missiles like the Meteor. The Rivet Joint’s a Cold War throwback reborn, its tech tracing back to Vietnam-era spy planes but upgraded to snoop on today’s threats. And the F-35B? It’s the future, a $100-million marvel that’s as much computer as aircraft, designed to outthink and outfight anything in the air. The Red Arrows, though, steal the show with charm. Since 1965, they’ve been the RAF’s ambassadors, wowing crowds from Farnborough to Singapore. Their Hawk jets might not fight wars, but they embody the skill that keeps the RAF sharp.
This wasn’t just a show for plane spotters—though they loved every second, scribbling tail numbers and debating engine specs. It was a bridge across generations. The Lancaster linked back to the airmen of 1945, while the F-35s pointed to tomorrow’s battles. For the veterans watching, some in their nineties, it was a nod to their mates who didn’t make it home. For kids on their parents’ shoulders, it was a history lesson with afterburners. The flypast distilled 80 years of RAF evolution into five minutes of thunder, proving that remembrance doesn’t have to be quiet to hit hard.
As the last smoke trails faded over London, the crowd lingered, buzzing with chatter about what they’d just seen. The mix of old and new, lumbering bombers and screaming jets, told a story bigger than any one aircraft. It was about a nation that fought, won, and kept flying—literally. For aviation diehards, it was a lineup to dissect for weeks. For everyone else, it was a cracking good time that made Monday feel like a victory all over again.
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