VE Day Flypast: Route, Timing, and Location Details
A military flypast is set to take place on May 5 to commemorate 80 years since VE Day, marking the end of World War II in Europe. The event, which will be broadcast live on Sky News, will feature a range of military aircraft, including the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows, flying over central London.
According to Sky News, the flypast will take place after a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, involving over 1,300 members of the UK Armed Forces, uniformed services, and young people. The aircraft will follow a specific route, which has been split into zones, each with a designated time slot when airspace is restricted.
The flypast route will cover several areas, including Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, and Oxfordshire. The planes are expected to fly over these areas at specific times, which are as follows:
- Area A: North Sea, Suffolk, and Norfolk, between 10:45am – 1:45pm
- Area B: East Suffolk (Saxmundham) and Suffolk (East Bergholt), between 12:15pm – 1:10pm
- Area C: Suffolk (East Bergholt) and Essex (Colchester), between 12:20pm – 1:10pm
- Area D: Essex (Colchester and Witham), between 12:20pm – 1:10pm
- Area E: Essex (Witham) and London City, between 12:25pm – 1:10pm
- Area F: London City and London Heathrow, between 12:25pm – 1:10pm
- Area G: Buckinghamshire (Denham) and Cheshire (Halton), between 12:45pm – 1:25pm
- Area H: Cheshire (Halton) and Oxfordshire (Brize), between 12:45pm – 1:25pm
- Area I: North west London, between 12:45pm – 1:25pm
As reported by Sky News, the flypast will reach The Mall and Buckingham Palace at around 1:45pm on Bank Holiday Monday. The event will feature a range of military aircraft, including the Voyager transport aircraft, a P8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft, Typhoon, and F-35 fighter jets, as well as historic World War II-era aircraft.
The flypast mission commander, Andrew Watson, was quoted by Sky News as saying that he expects the actual flypast to be a "good spectacle for the nation and Commonwealth". Mark Jackson, the flypast senior responsible officer, added that it is a "great honour to be part of the events to remember those who served our nation 80 years ago".
Sky News will be providing live coverage of the VE Day celebrations, including the flypast, from 10am on Monday, with Sarah-Jane Mee hosting a special programme from Canada Gate at Buckingham Palace. The programme will feature Royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills and Sky News Royal events commentator Alastair Bruce. Additionally, Sky’s Midlands correspondent Shamaan Freeman-Powell will be reporting from the skies as she joins the flypast.
The VE Day celebrations are a significant event, marking 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe. The flypast is a key part of the celebrations, and Sky News will be providing extensive coverage of the event.
