Families of aircrew at RAF Brize Norton were treated to the trip of a lifetime when they were part of this year's flypast at Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen's Birthday.

As thousands watched the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony in Horseguards Parade in London, back at Brize Norton, about 70 people and a handful of journalists boarded the Tristar and VC-10 aircraft that were to form part of the flypast over the palace at 1pm on June 14.

Among those on board were David and Linda Ireland, from Carterton, and their daughters Christina who clambered out of their seats to the airy front of the plane to get a good view as they flew over the capital.

Christina said: "I'm excited. I've never been to Buckingham Palace before."

John and Kathryn Shaw, who live at the base, brought their 20-month-old daughter Jade along.

Mr Shaw, a Tristar engineer -- who has just returned from duty in the Gulf -- said such trips were a perk of the job.

He said: "It's not something you can do every day. Things like this are really special occasions."