Three of the RAF’s Hercules C-130 aircraft performed a final flypast over the UK this week before their forthcoming retirement.
The RAF Hercules C130 aircraft conducted the tour of the UK as a farewell salute ahead of their withdrawal from service at the end of June.
The trio departed RAF Brize Norton at 10am on Wednesday, performing a set of flypasts across all four countries of the UK before returning to Brize Norton in the early evening.
The first Hercules arrived at Marshall’s of Cambridge in December 1966.
Since entering RAF service, originally with 242 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Thorney Island, it has operated across the globe in support of UK military and humanitarian relief operations.
The transition to the 22-strong Atlas (A400) fleet and other air mobility aircraft has been ongoing for some time.
47 Squadron and the Hercules will continue to deliver on operations supporting UK defence objectives until 30 Jun 2023.
Main photo credit: Photographer: Cpl Lee Matthews UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023 – MOD News Licences
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