I just watched an ABC program on the British Royalty. Early in the program they highlighted the annual Royal Air Force Queen Birthday Fly Over of Buckingham Palace. Forty nine combat aircraft, in small formations, representing most of Britian's combat aircraft from the Spitfire to contemporary front line fighter/bombers. I may have missed some numbers but I believe the narrative said the formation was 24 miles in length. It must be a truly impressive sight.

Any knowledge or experience out there with a fly over of this magnitude? What would you guess the airspeed and the degree of separation between the various formations?

I would have loved to seen that! Lou

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Any knowledge or experience out there with a fly over of this magnitude? What would you guess the airspeed and the degree of separation between the various formations?

The lead aircraft will overfly Buckingham Palace at 1300 hours local (1pm). The spacing between elements of the formation is to be 2nm; the formation airspeed is to be 280kts. The minimum altitude for the flypast route is to be 1,500ft.

Interesting info. I was going to guess 200-250kts, but I got smart and googled first!

Thank you sir. I should have googled it my self. Would certainly like to see it.

Spinning my trusty E6B (Well actually it's CR-4 I have here in my pencil box) says that works out to 43 seconds between elements.