Radzi and the RAF Blue Peter Bite


Radzi and the RAF

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This is Blue Peter, but mini.

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Expect epic adventures, makes, bakes, badges, pets,

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presenters and your post.

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We've only got five minutes, so get ready for your Blue Peter adventure.

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Trooping The Colour - the official celebration of the Queen's Birthday.

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Every year, thousands gather around Buckingham Palace to see

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her Majesty's Armed Forces put on a spectacular parade.

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CANNON FIRES

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And this year marks the Queen's 90th birthday,

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so the celebrations are extra special.

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But while the streets around the palace are filled with colour,

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for the most breath-taking moment, you've got to look to the skies.

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It's tradition that every year, when the Royal family make their

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way out onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace, they are

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greeted by a Royal Air Force fly-past.

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It is a mammoth operation and takes a huge amount of planning and skill,

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and some pretty impressive aircraft.

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The 2016 Queen's fly-past is made up

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of 29 of the finest in the RAF's fleet,

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specially assembled for the Queen's 90th birthday.

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In wave seven, just in front of the world-famous Red Arrows,

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is the A330 Voyager.

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And it's quite a plane.

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The Voyager is the largest aircraft the RAF has ever operated.

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Fully loaded, it can travel over 6,000 miles and do anything

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from carry cargo, passengers and even be a flying petrol station

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refuelling other planes in mid-air!

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But, why am I stood underneath this rather than the

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other 28 aircraft involved in the Queens fly-past?

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Well, that's because I'm going to be on-board this one! Yes!

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That's right, the RAF have given Blue Peter the exclusive

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opportunity to be on-board the Voyager's flight deck as it

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travels over Buckingham Palace. And guess what?

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You're coming along for the ride, too.

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Making sure the planes stay bang on time is the job of

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flight Sgt Paul Riley, the Mission Systems Operator.

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Flight Sgt Paul Riley, lovely to meet you.

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Nice to meet you, Radzi.

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I would love to be a part of it and possibly try and help out.

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Is there anything I can do?

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Well, we're thinking about letting you do some of the timings.

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So, what I'd like you to do is you're going to check a couple of

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waypoints to make sure we are on time.

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After meeting up, the planes all fly a preplanned route to the palace,

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which has markers called "waypoints."

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By looking when the planes fly over each waypoint, Flight Sgt Riley

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can tell exactly if we're on schedule or if we're not.

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-And if I am late, what will happen then?

-No options of being late.

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-We've got to be on time.

-OK.

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The big day has finally arrived and celebrations

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are about to get underway.

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Hosted by the BBC's Hugh Edwards.

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We'll be enjoying all the day's events.

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And at RAF Brize Norton, it's time to get ready to fly.

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Probably just...just leave these.

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Being on the flight deck for take-off is incredible,

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but there's no time for sightseeing.

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Straight away, the team get down to work.

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I've got to keep my voice a little bit down because there's

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a lot going on here. So, we're at the very first phase of the flight,

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which is where we actually go round in circles,

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and that's to get the timing right so that when we begin our journey we are spot on time.

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Keeping the Queen waiting is simply not an option.

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The fly-past has to be over Buckingham Palace

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within just a ten-second window.

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And there's another reason we have to stay on schedule -

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we've got friends to meet. Right next to our plane are Typhoons.

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They've just arrived.

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The Typhoons are the first to get into formation.

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Gradually, everyone else on the fly-past

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falls into place, which we can see just up ahead.

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So far, so good.

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Meanwhile, on the ground, the crowds have gathered and the royal family

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are coming out onto the balcony.

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So, the Queen and the Duke smiling and greeting the crowds,

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everyone waiting patiently.

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And through the haze you can see the skyline of London.

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This has just got real.

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We hit the outskirts of the city travelling at over 300mph,

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less than 1,000 feet from the ground.

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There's simply no room for error.

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40 seconds to go, 40 seconds to get this right.

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The first planes from the fly-past arrive.

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There'll be a big round of applause

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when people see the Spitfire and the Hurricane.

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I think I can see Buckingham Palace!

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The great big Voyager - 200 feet long.

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We've done it!

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Flying over the Palace bang on time.

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And to top it off, the world-famous Red Arrows.

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Happy birthday, Your Majesty.

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Join in every Thursday on CBBC.

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