Andy Munns
The grass areas near the end of the runway at Boscombe Down were busy with people this afternoon, as the grass verge of the A345 became an impromptu car park.
They were all there to witness the farewell flypast of the Hercules aeroplanes, which are due to retire from service soon.
There were murmurs of excitement as the three C-130s appeared over the treeline and then flew over the runway at low altitudes with the sun’s rays breaking through the white clouds.
See our gallery of pictures from the flypast below:
The first Hercules arrived at Marshall’s of Cambridge in December 1966 Hercules. Since entering RAF service, with 242 Operational Conversion Unit at RAF Thorney Island, it has operated globally in support of UK military and humanitarian relief operations.
The aeroplanes took off from Brize Norton this morning before taking on a loop around the country.
The planes came from a southwesterly direction after passing over Tollard Royal on its way up from Southampton. The planes then banked left, heading for Westdown Camp and then north from there.
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