Trooping the Colour

[#1]

For the first time in several years due to other commitments, I've been able to watch the Trooping of the Colour live on TV rather than the highlights later.
I never cease to be enthralled by this spectacle. Others may try to emulate it, but nobody does this kind of ceremonial quite like "us"
I would love to get a ticket, but I understand they are like gold dust and highly prized, nobody but nobody "touts" them.
I could do without Claire Spalding popping up at intervals though.

[#2]

Clair Balding is lucky to be able to pop up, she has very recently had a cancer op and her thyroid gland removed.
we had the first 21 Gun salute in Colchester this morning, artilliary detactment of the Para's
Also the Fly paste usually comes down past Colchester and over Chelmsford a few minutes before 1300 hrs

[#3]

Ooop's sorry Clair, completely misspelt your name. Didn't know about the cancer either.

[#4]

Always a great event which we do so well here in the UK.  Takes weeks of preparation and the rehearsals are held very early in the mornings before the roads are busy with traffic.

[#5]

yes Clairs event was in May  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6386972.ece

Heard the Flypast planes, was surprised it wasnt shown live on Tele, thought it normally was

[#6]

Quote from: pierre_pierre

Also the Fly paste usually comes down past Colchester and over Chelmsford a few minutes before 1300 hrs

I always used to enjoy seeing this flypast when I lived in Essex, except one year - I was flying a glider in the circuit at North Weald just after 1pm, at about 1500 foot and within our own airspace - when I glimpsed out of the corner of my eye some smoke, looked around and saw a formation of Vulcan, Phantoms etc bearing down on my about a mile away and at the same height ! ! !  - I stuck the nose down and dived down to about 800 feet within seconds - and saw the formation pass just overhead.
We should have reported the air miss - but instead someone just phoned RAF Wattisham air traffic to complain. Abject apologies were received, a few RAF pilots had seen me and we left it at that.

But I agree - Trooping the Colour is a brilliant display - I love it and always watch when I can - but missed this year 

[#7]

The flypast actually forms up above our town here. Saw them all last weekend forming up. A flight of EF2000s in diamond formation followed by a Nimrod + 2 Tornado GRs which were followed by the Queens Flight 146 + 2 Tornado ADVs. Then came a VC10 and 2 more Tornado ADVs.
Over the years it's been scaled back quite considerably by a reduction in the number of aircraft taking part and the number of circuits they make while forming up. I believe if they take a 180 heading from our lighthouse it takes them straight down the Mall.

[#8]

Mal, I have to say you do come up with some cracking stories. I do enjoy them

[#9]

The route is published in a NOTAM - and I dare say it is online these days.
But surely the Mall is aligned at about 225 degrees

[#10]

A bit of video of this year's fly past and the route as well.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart166axe/3623971156/

[#11]

the NOTAM is on the http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=66294

[#12]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8098729.stm

OK
name all the aircraft - and subclasses,
and their ID