I used to live right next to the A12, so every April I was treated to the RAF en route to London for Her Maj’s birthday. I’ve seen formations of Typhoons, Tornados, C-17s and AWACS too.
However one summer’s day in 1984 found me in the playing fields of my primary school. I heard the familiar roar of engines and was treated to a sixteen plane flyby…leading the formation were four F-111s followed by eight Tornados and bringing up the rear were four Lightnings, the only time I have ever seen the latter flying.
Bloody noisy they were too, all the better for leaving a massive grin on my face that even an hour of maths failed to remove.