HMS Illustrious In Liverpool

HMS Illustrious, the Nation’s Strike Carrier, is paying a high profile visit to Liverpool from 22-27 Oct 2009 as the centrepiece of the Royal Navy’s continuing celebrations to mark this year’s centenary of Naval Aviation.

The ship, which is moored at the Queen Elizabeth Cruise liner berth close to the Royal Liver Building, is taking part in a busy programme of events, the highlight of which was a Centenary Fly Past over the carrier on Friday 23 October 2009.  The Fly Past consisted of up to 40 current and historic Naval aircraft including Merlin, Sea King, Lynx, Squirrel helicopters, Falcon and Hawk jets, 2 GR9 Harriers, 4 Firefly’s and - classic Naval favourites - the iconic Sea Vixen, Seafire and Sea Fury.  The aircraft passed over HMS Illustrious in a sequence of formations known as a Balbo – a large mixed formation of aircraft, named after the Italian General, Italo Balbo, who on several occasions flew large groups of flying boats across the Atlantic in the early 1930’s.

His Royal Highness the Duke of York KG, the Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, was the guest of honour onboard the Carrier as the formation flew overhead.  HMS Illustrious was open to visitors on Sunday 25 October and today Monday 26 October.  Members of the public have had the opportunity to see three exciting Royal Navy flying displays over the weekend and visit a static park of Naval aircraft in front of the Royal Liver Building.

These days, the berths of the River Mersey are more used to receiving cruise liners than warships, and the sight of ‘Battleship Grey’ always draws large crowds.  When HMS Ark Royal visited in June 2008, thousands took the opportunity to step aboard, and thousands more lined the banks of the river to wish her well when she sailed.

Events

See also Visit Liverpool for more information.

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