IN PICTURES: Royal Air Force Flypast marks Her Majesty's 80th Birthday

The flypast took place after the Trooping of the Colour and included many of the latest aircraft the RAF has at its disposal, including its largest ever strategic airlift aircraft, the Boeing C17, which gained worldwide attention and acclaim last year when one of the Service’s four such aircraft from 99 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton, airlifted the Royal Navy’s Scorpio submarine rescue vessel to Eastern Russia and saved the lives of seven Russian submariners trapped on the seabed in their submersible "Priz".

The formation was led by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire – and was completed by a unique combination of the Red Arrows and an RAF Marham 39 Squadron Canberra photo-reconnaissance aircraft of the type that has served the RAF in multiple roles for more than 5 decades. It was making one of its final appearances before retiring at the end of July.

15 aircraft types were represented including 4 Typhoons from 3 (Fighter) Squadron, RAF Coningsby. The Squadron recently reformed on the RAF’s latest frontline aircraft. One of the breathtaking formations was a “diamond nine” of Tornado GR4 ground attack aircraft, also from RAF Marham, whose Honorary Air Commodore has for many years been Her Majesty. Ground attack forces were also represented by Jaguars from 6 Squadron, RAF Coningsby.

Refuelling tanker aircraft were represented by a VC10 from 101 Squadron, and a Tristar from 216 Squadron, both based at RAF Brize Norton, maritime reconnaissance by a Nimrod from 42 Squadron, RAF Kinloss, air defence by Tornado F3s from 111(F) Squadron RAF Leuchars and early warning by an E-3D Sentry from 8 Squadron, RAF Waddington.

The bulk of the formation assembled over the North Sea before routing towards London and down The Mall. The veteran Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight joined the route over Essex to lead the aircraft over Buckingham Palace.

The Canberra, which is nearing the end of its operational life, was designed as a bomber and first flew with the RAF in 1951 and some examples were equipped for Britain’s airborne nuclear deterrent. It has been in continuous service with the RAF ever since, most recently in the various Balkans conflicts and the Middle East.

It is believed to be the world’s longest serving bomber and has been in service for more than two-thirds of the life of the RAF. Saturday’s Canberra was built as a photo-reconnaissance aircraft based on the original bomber design.

Flight Lieutenant Dave Piper, who flew Saturday’s sortie, said:

"It was a great honour – I think it will be the last time Her Majesty sees a Canberra in the air. I have heard she has a soft spot for the Canberra.

"It was extremely hot flying at relatively low level at 280 knots but it was fantastic having the Red Arrows either side of me. It was a great way to say farewell to a fabulous aircraft which was leading edge in the fifties and made all the fighter boys snarl as here was a bomber that could outclimb and outpace them!"

See Related Images >>> for more pictures of the Flypast and Trooping the Colour