THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE 2022
The Queen and Aviation
The Queen and Aviation
Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch of the United Kingdom and has been on the Throne since 1952. Throughout Her Majesty’s 70 years serving the Monarch, Her Majesty, as part of her duty appearing at national and international events around the world in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and beyond has circled 42 times of the planet.
In 1951, just before Her Majesty ascended the Throne, Her Majesty, with Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother, became the first royal to use the revolutionary new technology of jet-powered flight and has created aviation history.
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On 1 February 1952, the BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) Argonaut Atalanta G-ALHK (1948 Canadair C-4 (DC-4M-2) Argonaut C/N 157) carried Her Majesty (then Princess Elizabeth) and the Duke of Edinburgh to Kenya to begin a Commonwealth tour. On 6 February 1952, Her Majesty returned to London on a BOAC Argonaut Atlanta, registration G-ALHK from her Royal Visit tour, walked out of the cabin for the first time as sovereign.
Her Majesty had first travelled with Concorde in 1977 and on visits in 1979, 1984, 1987, 1991, and 2003. The Concorde has a maximum speed of over twice the sound. However, Concorde was retired in 2003 due to safety and noise concerns.
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In recent years, Her Majesty has reduced flying on an aeroplane. Her Majesty, still, frequently flies on a helicopter.
Flight revolutionised Queen Elizabeth’s role.
Royal Historian Kate Williams
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On 6 February 1952, Her Majesty returned to London on a BOAC Argonaut Atlanta, registration G-ALHK from her Royal Visit tour, walked out of the cabin for the first time as sovereign.
Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II, BOAC Stratocruiser, Bermuda, 24th November 1954. (Image Credit: British Airways)
Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II disembarking Her Majesty's helicopter, G-XXEB Sikorsky S-76 (Image Credit: Twitter)
On 6 February 1952, Her Majesty returned to London on a BOAC Argonaut Atlanta, registration G-ALHK from her Royal Visit tour, walked out of the cabin for the first time as sovereign.
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