Above right: The Typhoons fl y down The Mall and
over Buckingham Palace. Crown Copyright
Right: The ‘100’ fl ies over Central London – a sight
witnessed by thousands of people. Crown Copyright
Left: The mass start on the fl ight line at No 29
Squadron for the rehearsal on June 27. All the
jets started up on the main apron at Coningsby so
that the pilots could move quickly to spare aircraft
if required. Post-fl ight, the jets returned to their
respective parking areas on the airfi eld. Jamie Hunter
Above left: The route plan for the join-up and run-
in to London on July 10. No 29 Squadron
http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #367 OCTOBER 2018 // 97
Each of the Typhoon ‘100’ elements got
airborne as independent sections (Triplex/Cobra/
Warlord) and they joined separately to compose
their respective numeral, before progressing
along the route towards the flypast datum whilst
slowly converging. At a pre-determined point
- Colchester – they were to be together in the
‘100’ (assuming the callsign ‘Typhoon’) and into
the overall ‘Windsor Formation’ train. Child
adds: “Once you’re together as a train it’s all
good – it’s the speed differentials of the various
elements and then the recoveries to home
airfields that then becomes the hard part.”
As the various groups of aircraft roared
overhead Buckingham Palace, an immaculate
‘100’ of 22 Typhoons came into view. They
were bang on time and shape – a proud
moment for all of those involved after so
much hard work. “It really was a whole force
effort,” says Child. “It ranged from having
the Lossiemouth guys here at Coningsby for
three weeks and their requirement for regular
training sorties as well as the centenary work,
to the dedication of the engineers ensuring
that all the jets we needed were available.
Air Traffic Control had to work closely with
us to get the 22 Typhoons and spares
airborne and recovered safely plus the BAE
Systems TyTAN [Typhoon Total Availability
Enterprise] ensured we had the spares and
support we needed – it really was a massive
team that made up the whole effort.” AFM
“Once you’re together as a train it’s all good – it’s the
speed differentials of the various elements and then
the recoveries to home airfi elds that then becomes
the hard part.” Sqn Ldr Mike Child, No 29 Squadron
94-97 Typhoon AFM Oct2018.indd 97 9/7/2018 3:05:12 PM