9 May 2020
Henstridge-based team The Yakovlevs gave the first-ever skytyping display in the UK to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe on VE Day.
The display over the airfield in Somerset could be seen for up to 20 miles, and had the messages ‘We Will Meet Again’ and ‘Thank You’ written in the sky. The Yakovlevs were given a special exemption from flying restrictions for the display.
We are honoured to announce that Team Yakovlevs has taken to the skies over Somerset to carry out the UK’s first ever skytyping sortie on behalf of VE75 in honour of our WWII veterans. All pilots flying today are also military veterans. pic.twitter.com/BgrUx7uiYW
— Team Yakovlevs ???? (@teamyakovlevs) May 8, 2020
The display was the first since a recent law change introduced by the Transport Secretary, to allow skytyping and skywriting.
Skywriting has a British history, after being inadvertently discovered by an RAF pilot during WWI when oil accidentally found its way into a hot exhaust and vapourised, creating a cloud of white smoke. British pilots then put the discovery to use to confuse attacking planes.
The Yakolevs display team includes military veterans from the RAF, French Air Force, British Royal Marines and the Royal Navy.
Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, said, “Victory in Europe Day will always be a landmark in British history and it is an honour to have commissioned the first skytyping display in the UK to mark the occasion.”
#VEDay is a landmark in British history. It’s an honour to have commissioned the UK’s first skytyping display to thank those who served to protect us, those now helping fight coronavirus and the ex-military pilots conducting today’s display. #ThankYou https://t.co/tJ2kL3up7I
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) May 8, 2020
