To celebrate it’s one hundredth birthday, the RAF is putting on a host of shows and exhibitions, with aircraft pulled from every era of the force’s illustrious history. With a deep and rich legacy, the RAF has faced some of the darkest days in British history and beaten insurmountable odds, and 2018 is the year to thank and celebrate them.
There has been a 100-day ongoing programme of events and the whole thing will culminate on the 10th July right here in London. So, let’s take a look at what you can see and do during this centenary celebration. Luckily, you’ll be well-placed in your Montcalm Hotel to access all the festivities.
RAF100 Aircraft Tour
Over the past one hundred days, RAF aircraft have been popping up across the country, amazing people with their sleek designs, history and general awesomeness.
From the 6th July to the 9th, the aircraft will be in London and there’s a great selection to take in. Displayed at Horse Guards, the collection includes the iconic Supermarine Spitfire, a Harrier G3 and a Chinook helicopter. Those are just a few of the amazing machines that will be on display, and all within easy travelling distance of our luxury accommodation in London. It’s a rare opportunity to see and touch the aircraft that have served the RAF in various conflicts throughout British history.
So make the trip to Horse Guard and see some of the most iconic aircraft ever created.
The Mall Parade
The day of the 10th July will kick off with a huge parade of service men and women from the various arms of the military, all marching along The Mall in unison. The Mall isn’t far from your Montcalm luxury accommodation London, and it promises to be a great experience.
It’s a chance to see the various military branches of the UK, all in one place and all wearing their finest regalia. The parade will follow the route traditionally taken by the Queen for her birthday parade, and The Mall is big enough to accommodate thousands, so there will be a great atmosphere.
It promises to be a great spectacle and there will undoubtedly be thousands of people out to watch the parade, so get a good position along the Mall. You might want to hold onto that spot for what comes next.
The 100 Aircraft Flypast
The culmination of this celebration of the RAF will come during the early afternoon on 10th July, when one hundred aircraft perform a flypast of Buckingham palace. If you don’t fancy the parade, you can always indulge in one of our Montcalm hotel spa deals and then head along to this capstone event.
The idea is to provide an aerial overview of all of the aircraft that have so ably served the pilots of the RAF throughout the years.
Planes and helicopters of different eras – the ultra-modern and classic designs of by-gone eras -will all rush overhead, providing a spectacle that probably won’t ever be repeated. The chance to see so many classic and modern aircraft in one place, working to the same task, may not ever happen again as many of the older models will not be air-worthy for future celebrations.
