C130 Hercules Farewell Tour

[Aly Bally]

I have heard that there will be a flypast over Edinburgh by a C130 perhaps escorted by Typhoons at 12.25 BST tomorrow (Wednesday). I have not been able to confirm if this is the case.

Maybe others can confirm if this is on.

[Vulcanone]

The 3 ship farewell tour is routing around the UK tomorrow.

That includes Scotland, well some of it !

[109sqn]

https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/a-flypast-to-mark-the-forthcoming-retirement-of-the-hercules-from-raf-service/

1000 Depart RAF Brize Norton

1025 National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas

1034 RAF Cosford

1122 RAF Valley

1148 FS Aldergrove

1251 RAF Lossiemouth (with Typhoon escort)

1408 RAF Leeming

1410 RAF Topcliffe

1423 Beverley

1435 RAF Waddington

1438 RAF College Cranwell

1458 Cambridge Airport

1504 RAF Mildenhall

1515 Colchester Garrison

1622 MOD Boscombe Down

1625 Salisbury Plain (West Down Camp)

1632 MOD Lyneham

1636 Royal Wootton Bassett

1639 Defence Academy of the UK, Shrivenham

1643 Dalton Barracks, Abingdon

1651 RAF Halton

1655 RAF High Wycombe

1705 RAF Brize Norton


So it looks like they are coming this way after Lossiemouth (possibly with the Typhoons) and, depending on the accuracy of the map, they might be flying over Musselburgh rather than Edinburgh, closer to 1325 than 1225.

[Fighterfoto]

The departure from Brize may be brought forward, possibly as early as 08:00 local. This will not change the timings en-route.

[109sqn]

That bastion of accurate reporting, The Edinburgh Evening News, does say

The Hercules retirement flypast will travel around Edinburgh at around 1pm - 1.20pm.

but they may have just made the same calculation I did. Although the suggestion it is "travelling around" Edinburgh does amuse me! I did have a long cycle ride planned for the hottest day of the week tomorrow but that may end up being substituted for a 'guess whether it's Edinburgh or Musselburgh' ride with the photographic kit.

[fourringcircus]

I wonder if any of the route up and back to/from Lossie will be LL?

[109sqn]

I wonder if any of the route up and back to/from Lossie will be LL?

Edinburgh Airport's arrivals & departures are only listed up to 1300 tomorrow at this point so I don't know how much that would impact things around here. There were about 8 movements today in that window for the southbound flight.

[Unknown74]

I reckon it will more than likely be East Lothian than over Edinburgh? But I could be wrong.

[fourringcircus]

I'm wondering more about the LL options before they get to the central belt. The Angus Glen's in particular....

[109sqn]

I reckon it will more than likely be East Lothian than over Edinburgh? But I could be wrong.

I'm inclined to agree, based on the map as I say. Which begs the question: High altitude location (bicycle-accessible) with a decent all-round aspect of Musselburgh and surrounds? It's either that or Arthur's Seat/Calton Hill to cover the Edinburgh/Musselburgh options as best possible.

[Nighthawke]

Main thread for info is here-

viewtopic.php?f=287&t=233049

[fourringcircus]

Looks like it won't be going anywhere east of Perth.

[109sqn]

In the absence of any more detailed flight route info, I'll likely be joining any mad dogs and Englishmen* on top of Arthur's Seat today to hedge my bets regarding its Edinburgh/East Lothian pass.

I wonder if anyone on top of Mount Eryri will get a (distant?) view of it on its way to Valley?

It's disappeared from PlaneFinder but still showing on FR24. (Edit: now reappeared)



* Other animals, nationalities and genders are available.

[109sqn]

Seems to be bang on schedule so far, just leaving Anglesey.

[109sqn]

OMEN2 (ZH868) & OMEN3 (ZH871) now showing in addition to OMEN1 (ZH870)

[Mike]

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=233271

[Aly Bally]

Oh well, they certainly gave us a wide berth.

[Mapper]

Went out at Leuchars in hope of seeing it per the map posted on Twitter but yes very much wide berth. Shame.

[Unknown74]

Went down to Cramond thinking they might appear over the Forth at some point but unfortunately nothing appeared, shouldn't have looked at FR24 and ASDB to see them head Stirling then Glasgow area, The RAF Navigators can't be as bad as I was/ am at Map reading surely?

[109sqn]

Wow, just back and looked at the actual route on Planefinder - no wonder I missed them at Arthur's Seat!!!

I was late getting on the road (nothing new there!) and reached Dunsapie Loch without having even heard them, but realising I was likely too late to actually see them. So I cut my losses and spent a lovely hot afternoon photographing other flying objects, starting with a heron, followed by a family of Mute Swans, juvenile Magpies being fed, Mallards, Canada Geese, before heading to Duddingston Loch for Greylag Geese, more Mallards (even petted one female without the male rolling his sleeves up!) and Jackdaws. So not a just a bit disappointing on the Herky Bird front.