The Fini Flight

By Lee Matthews

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since that final 3-ship, my FINI flight and a day I had to wave farewell to the mighty Hercules.

Though what a day it was, I had a full compliment of kit, both stills and video and pre-planned to sit on an echelon aircraft (OMEN2) with a colleague on the lead. I had with me members of 206, 47 and STANEVAL at the controls of my aircraft and some of the best loadies you could ask for.

The Last Ride patch was front and centre throughout and as we lifted so began an epic sortie. Starting at the NMA and Cosford and then hitting the iconic valleys of the Mach Loop. I have been through the loop a few times in the Herc, but as a three-ship… well that was new.

I had my wide angle lens on ready to capture the bank past Bwlch and CAD, my phone secured to the window to film it and a GoPro secured again to film it.

After the Loop it was Aldergrove and then a high transit to Lossiemouth and that formation with Typhoons. This was difficult and not much I could get seeing as I was shooting through the rear windows which are… dire for photography. Though the view was still insane.

We headed South, against the flow at Thirlmere and past the likes of Cambridge where we saw the other Hercs already retired from service which was poignant in itself.

Landing in Fairford allowed me to run over and catch the water arches and a sunset rainbow just perfectly finished off the most memorable sortie i’ll ever fly on.

A quick kiss for my ride… ZH871… and so ended my FINI flight.

The edit followed soon after and a lot of images, video and reels all of which will hopefully help people remember this true workhorse of the skies.