Diamond Jubilee: Pilot takes controls of Swordfish
- Published
The Swordfish will lead a diamond formation of nine Royal Navy helicopters
A former Royal Navy engineer will realise a life's ambition when he takes to the skies in the cockpit of a Swordfish bi-plane for a Diamond Jubilee flypast.
Glenn Allison, commanding officer of 727 Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton, will pilot the torpedo bomber at the head of a diamond formation of nine Naval helicopters.
The flypast will mark the finale of the River Thames pageant.
Lt Cdr Allison, who served at RNAS Portland, Dorset in the 1980s, will take the controls of the only Swordfish still flying.
An iconic aircraft, the Swordfish proved pivotal in turning events during World War II.
It helped to disable the German battleship Bismark while six Swordfish attacked German battleships in the "Channel Dash" in February 1942.
The aircraft Lt Cdr Allison will fly, built in 1943, kept German U-boats at bay during latter stages of the Battle of the Atlantic.
Military precision
The squadron gathered at RNAS Yeovilton this week for a full dress rehearsal. Lt Cdr Allison said it was an exhilarating experience.
Lt Cdr Allison will take the controls of the only Swordfish still flying
He said: "The Swordfish is working absolutely fantastically and following its recent maintenance, we're getting lots of power out of the engine.
"The timings for the flypast have worked out absolutely perfectly, so we've achieved lots of useful information from practising our manoeuvres ahead of the main event."
He added: "It doesn't get any better than displaying in front of Her Majesty and flying over central London in an iconic World War II Swordfish of the Fleet Air Arm, the aviation branch of the Royal Navy.
"I don't think as a squadron we could ever better that. We're just praying for the weather now, but to do it on the day will be absolutely fantastic."
The squadron will depart from Biggin Hill Airport in Kent before co-ordinating their flypast over HMS President and Tower Bridge in time for the end of the river pageant.
As the Swordfish flies past, Lt Cdr Allison will raise a white ensign from the rear of the cockpit to salute the Queen.
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