Here are some of the first pictures of the flypast over London for the RAF’s centenary

PUBLISHED: 14:01 10 July 2018 | UPDATED: 15:33 10 July 2018

Rhiannon Long

The RAF 100th anniversary flypast coming over Fairlop Water. Picture: Ken Mears

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Here are the first pictures from our reporters, both in the office and out on Tower Bridge, of the historic and modern aircraft.

The flypast began at Suffolk, passing to the north of Colchester, heading towards Marks Tey, Kelvedon and Witham before passing to the north and east of Chelmsford, Essex.

It crossed the M25 to fly over Stapleford Abbotts, Hainault Forest and on to central London. It passed over Redbridge, Wanstead, Leyton, the Olympic Park, Hackney, Bethnal Green, Shoreditch and the City before it reached Buckingham Palace just after 1pm.

John Baker, who is on holiday from Vancouver and was watching with wife Sara, said: “It was incredible to see that many planes fly past. It was a great surprise for us.”

Up to 100 aircraft took part in the flypast, which began at Suffolk. Picture: Sophie Morton

Some of the aircraft which took part included the Chinook helicopter, Second World War workhorse the Hurricane, a Hercules transporter, Hawks T1 and T2, and Tornado fast jet.

Members of the Royal Family gathered at the Palace to watch the flyover, while spectators watched from along The Mall, including workers on their lunchbreak.

Dave Evans, an officer who was out on his break, said: “It was a brilliant way to mark the RAF’s birthday. I’ll bet they [the organisers] were really pleased with that.”

The flyover was preceeded with a parade at Buckingham Palace and service at Westminster Abbey. Picture: Sophie Morton

Pictures of the flypast from the paper's offices in Barking. Picture: Sophie Morton

22 RAF Typhoons form the number 100 as they fly in formation over central London to mark the centenary of the RAF. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

The RAF 100th anniversary flyover central London. Picture: Ken Mears

Aircraft over Fairlop Water. Picture: Ken Mears