Armed Forces Day - Edinburgh 2011

Following on from my previous postings regarding Armed Forces Day, I have put up a few images from the weekend - please note that this will include aircraft strange considering this is a blog about shipping.

Supporting the Forces flags in the Royal Mile

HMS Portland seen alongside in Leith

She is seen here firing her gun at the pirate vessel (Ex Rmas) Deerhound

Royal Navy Lynx flying over Leith

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (A Lancaster Bomber and 2 Spitfires) flying over the city and Edinburgh Castle

The Red Arrows flying over the city and Edinburgh Castle

 
















Flying over the lock gates at Leith with the cruise ship Minerva in the locks

A very vertical climb over Inchkeith Island!

Flying over Edinburgh Castle

A final fly past of HMS Portland lets hope its not another 23 years before they come to Edinburgh again!

HMS PORTLAND

Hms Portland a Duke Class Type 23 Frigate arrived in the Port of Leith today to participate in the Armed Forces Day / Weekend in the city.

For more information on the Armed Forces Day please click HERE

Hms Portland is seen here approaching the lock gates with the help of Seal Carr

Nearly there

Oxcar on the stern

Squeezing ino the lock

Through the lock gates

Coming towards the quayside

HMS Portland is open to visitors on Friday 24th June 2011 between 10:00 and 18:00

HMS Illustrious departs Rosyth for the final time

HMS Illustrious has begun sea trials following the completion of a £40m maintenance and upgrade programme lasting 16 months.

She is seen here leaving Rosyth to start her second set of sea trials on the 18 June 24 hours later than planned.

She underwent modifications to turn her into a helicopter and commando carrier, capable of carrying a force of up to 20 helicopters and 600 fully kitted-out personnel.

During which time 540,000 litres of paint were used on the ship, including a fuel-efficient outer hull coating that will save tonnes of fuel and CO2 emissions over her remaining life.

Having already completed one week of initial sea safety training and preliminary sea trials (See HERE for her previous departure from Rosyth), the Portsmouth-based ship will now undergo a further five weeks of sea trials before returning to the fleet at the end of July 2011.

HMS Illustrious will then assume a helicopter and commando carrier role while HMS Ocean undergoes a planned refit, which is due for completion by 2014.

HMS Illustrious is due to retire from service in 2014.

She is seen here approaching the Forth Road Bridge

This is probably the last picture of an Invincible Class Aircraft Carrier sailing under the Forth Bridge

Good luck with the trials guys

HMS Illustrious

Hms Illustrious returned to the Firth of Forth today, following a week of sea trials in the Firth of Forth and North Sea areas after a 14 month £40 million refit at Rosyth Dockyard.

She is seen here sailing under the iconic Forth Rail Bridge on her way to Crombie Pier for storing up.

She is going to Rosyth shortly for a few days before finally sailing out of the Forth for the very last time as she is due to retire in just three years time...

HMS Illustrious

After a 16 month refit at Rosyth Dockyard HMS Illustrious is seen here departing on Friday 3rd June 2011 for her post refit trials which are expected to take several weeks. 

See HERE for her arrival back in February 2010.

See here finally underway after 16 months in the hands of the dockyard workers:

Building up steam:

Four tugs now assisting Lusty's departure:

And back to two tugs:

Head on from the Forth Road Bridge:

This image shows her full length as she disappears under the Forth Road Bridge:

Lets not forget the Forth Ports tug Oxcar who had a big job in pulling Lusty down the channel: