A Royal Air Force flypast led by an all-female crew took to the skies above Wembley for Sunday’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final.

A C-130 Hercules transport aircraft from 47 Sqn, crewed by three women, was flanked by two Typhoon fighter jets from 12 Sqn as they flew over Wembley Stadium before England’s historic fixture with Germany.

The Hercules flew from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and both Typhoons took off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The Hercules was captained by Flight Lieutenant Lauren who has been in the Air Force for 12 years. She has deployed all over the world, including Afghanistan, where she helped train the first female Afghan pilots.

Inspiring the next generation

Wing Commander James Sjoberg, Officer Commanding Number 47 Squadron, said: “I am very proud that a Hercules from 47 Squadron has been able to lead the flypast for this special occasion.

“The women flying … have more than 6,000 hrs of experience and dozens of operational deployments between them.

“They are a credit to the Royal Air Force and the Air Mobility Force – I hope they’ll inspire the next generation of women to forge a career in aviation and with the Royal Air Force.”
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