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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Army bids farewell to Lynx helicopter with flypast tour | Army bids farewell to Lynx helicopter with flypast tour |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Army is bidding farewell to the Lynx helicopter with a commemorative flight. | The Army is bidding farewell to the Lynx helicopter with a commemorative flight. |
| The aircraft is to be decommissioned after almost 40 years in service. | The aircraft is to be decommissioned after almost 40 years in service. |
| Four remaining Mk9 Lynx left from RAF Odiham in Hampshire on an aerial tour taking in military bases and locations associated with the helicopter. | |
| The flight will culminate in a V-shaped "air procession" along the River Thames in central London. | The flight will culminate in a V-shaped "air procession" along the River Thames in central London. |
| Commanding Officer of 657 Squadron, Maj James Peycke said the Army was saying "farewell to the iconic machine". | |
| "It is hugely emotional saying goodbye to the Lynx after six years of flying, and it carves out a big chunk of your heart." | |
| Maj Peycke, who is flying in the lead Lynx, called the aircraft "hugely manoeuvrable". | |
| There is "never a dull day when you are flying", he added. | |
| Described as a primary battlefield utility helicopter, over the decades the Lynx has also destroyed tanks, evacuated wounded personnel, gathered intelligence and provided humanitarian support. | |
| The British-made aircraft entered service in 1978 and has been used during military deployments to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone. | The British-made aircraft entered service in 1978 and has been used during military deployments to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone. |
| It is set to be replaced within the British Army by the Wildcat, which has more powerful engines and can operate at a higher altitude. | |
| The helicopters took off shortly after 09:00 GMT and are due to reach London at 15:50 for a formation flight over the Thames led by a Chinook helicopter. | |
| The Royal Navy mounted a similar tour in March last year to say farewell to its Mark 8 Lynx before decommissioning the aircraft. |