NEXT week north Suffolk aviation enthusiasts get a chance to see some impressive groups of aircraft flying in formation as they take part in the Queen's Birthday Fly-Past.

NEXT week north Suffolk aviation enthusiasts get a chance to see some impressive groups of aircraft flying in formation as they take part in the Queen's Birthday Fly-Past.

The actual event takes place on Saturday, June 12, with the majority of aircraft forming up off the coast at Southwold before heading off to London where they fly over Buckingham Palace.

The formations are due to fly over Buckingham Palace at 1pm and will be leaving Southwold at 12.40pm although aircraft will be arriving in the area and forming up from 11.30am.

A full-scale rehearsal is also planned during the week of the flypast with the aircraft again forming up over Southwold but instead of heading for London will fly to RAF Marham and use RAF Waddington as Buckingham Palace.

Geoff Dann, of the Lowestoft Aviation Society, said the event is always a good chance for members of the public to see the low-flying aircraft provided the weather is favourable.

Mr Dann said that as in previous years the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will join the other aircraft nearer London and will not be flying to Suffolk.

'You may be aware that last year the Red Arrows were supposed to join the formation near Chelmsford but in fact came over Southwold unexpectedly, so there may be such anomalies this year, which of course we cannot account for in advance - and then there's the weather!' said Mr Dann.

The flying programme as it stands at present is:

Fly-Past - Queen's Official Birthday Parade, Saturday, June 12.

Timings; 13:00 BST overhead Buckingham Palace (Reserve time 16:00 in case of delay in Trooping of the Colour or poor weather etc.) The forming up will take place in the Southwold area and participants will begin to arrive from 11:30 BST, the formation, call sign WINDSOR FORMATION will depart Southwold at 12:40 BST for Buckingham Palace.

The following elements represent Homeland Defence Past, Present & Future;

1st Element - Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Lancaster*, Hurricane and Spitfire) (*Dakota may stand-in for Lancaster) WILL NOT BE SEEN OVER SUFFOLK

2nd Element - 2 x Typhoon, 2 x Tornado F.3 (Last time Tornado F.3's will take part before they are retired from service)

3rd Element - 2 x VC.10

The following elements represent Support to Current Operations;

4th Element - Tristar, 2 x Tornado GR.4

5th Element - Sentinel R.1, 2 x BAe.125 CC.2

6th Element - Nimrod R.1, 2 x Tornado GR.4

7th Element - Sentry AEW.1, 2 x Tornado GR.4

8th Element - Red Arrows 9 x Hawk T.1

Whipper-Ins and route recce - 2 x Hawk T.1 (Callsigns = WINDSOR WHIP 1 & 2) and a 32 Squadron Helicopter in the London Area (Call sign WINDSOR PHOTO)