RAF hero says Coronation flypast can be considered one of his proudest moments
An RAF hero who flew in Iraq and Afghanistan has stated flying within the Coronation flypast over Buckingham Palace can be one of many proudest moments of his illustrious profession. 72 Fighter Squadron’s Wing Commander Chris Ball spoke to Express.co.uk about his position within the aerial event.
The Wing Commander (WG Cdr) stated it might be a “special moment” to fly over the Mall and Buckingham Palace because the RAF welcomes in a brand new monarch.
He will lead 4 Texan T Mk1s and a Phenom in a Camel formation over London as a part of a 60 plane show flying low over the capital.
WG Cdr Ball added that it was a “huge honour, a huge privilege to be just a small part of this celebration” and that his household can be “really proud” of him.
Although the dimensions and significance of the duty dealing with WG Cdr Ball and his pilots are immense, the stress is eased by their current expertise flying within the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, one thing WG Cdr Ball remembers fondly.
READ MORE: Second Coronation flypast announced for UK cities
He stated: “I feel kind of fortunate that I took part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and there are many similarities in the way we actually execute it so that means there’s a little bit less fear of the unknown.”
A fan of the Royal Family, WG Cdr Ball stated that it wasn’t till after the Queen died that many realised simply how large part of life within the UK she was.
He stated: “When the Queen passed you suddenly realised how many things tie into the Royal Family and how UK life is touched in so many areas by this. It’s almost one of those things, that if it wasn’t there then you would suddenly notice and realise what it brings.”
The similar might be stated of the RAF who will deliver an aerial soundtrack to the Coronation proceedings as they swoop low throughout the capital, flying decrease even than the peak of the Shard.
He stated: “It certainly takes quite a bit of training and one of the roles that we perform on the Texan is to teach young trainee pilots how to fly in formation, how to fly in formation in cloud and in all sorts of different situations. Once you get to the frontline this is a normal day in day out skill.
“Flying in formation just becomes a way of getting around efficiently with a couple of aircraft together so it becomes, hopefully, a mundane skill. It’s such a practised thing it should be relatively mundane once you’re well-trained in it. When we did the rehearsal, the air was very smooth.”
This doesn’t imply that it’s all the time a stroll within the park. During the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the WG Cdr said the hot conditions meant the aircraft felt like it was “bouncing around all over the place”. Fast forward to the Coronation and millions of eyes will be on his wing tips, that is if the weather holds off.
Ahead of the flypast, there are concerns wet weather could mean the flypast is called off altogether.
WG Cdr Ball said: “The challenge is if the cloud base is too low or if the rain is so thick that I can’t see through it then that causes a bit of a problem there are weather limits.
“There is a situation where the weather is so bad, we won’t be able to do it. Already, as you’re flying through London, I think we’re about the same height as the Shard and some of the big buildings; if there is a lot of cloud around you can’t be messing around.”
If the flypast does go ahead as planned though, there will be an extra treat in store as WG Cdr will be leading his Texans on a second special flypast beginning at 4.39pm over Wrexham and flying via Liverpool and the Isle of Man as they return house to RAF Valley in North Wales.