[Kyt]

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/di...entPK=20617861

An Raf pilot who will fly a Lancaster bomber over Derbyshire to commemorate the Dambusters mission has described the flight as "a fantastic honour".

Squadron Leader Stuart Reid will take the controls of the iconic bomber on Friday morning to mark the 65th anniversary of the dramatic raid.

The bomber, which is one of only two remaining flying Lancasters, will make four trips over the Derwent Dam, where the Dambuster pilots trained in 1943 before the famous raid on the Ruhr Valley Dams in Germany.

After the commemorative flight over the dam, the historic aircraft will swoop over the Chatsworth estate before returning to its base at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.

Mr Reid, 52, an RAF pilot for 32 years, said: "I have done many fly-pasts, including the Queen Mother's funeral and the Queen's birthday.

"All of them have been real honours but this one is going to be really special.

"What the Dambusters did was unique and a British institution. To follow them and fly over the dam where they practised will be a fantastic honour for me."

The Lancaster will be joined high over Derwent Water by two Tornados, a Spitfire, a Hurricane and a Dakota.

Powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, the Lancaster will be manned by a crew of four - Mr Reid, co-pilot Flight Attendant Miles Davey, Flight Sergeant Tony Dale and navigator Squadron Leader Jeff Hesketh.

Mr Hesketh's role is to chart the route the plane will take.

After taking off from RAF Coningsby at 9.55am, it will head north over Nottinghamshire before entering Derbyshire north of Chesterfield.

It will arrive over the Derwent Valley at 10.27am and swoop four times over Derwent Water.

After this, the crew will take the plane south and soar over Chatsworth, at 10.58am - the best vantage point for members of the public to see the legendary aircraft.

Mr Hesketh said: "The sight and sound of the aircraft is always something special.

"We call the noise from the Rolls-Royce engines 'the music of the Merlins'. It will send a shiver down your spine.

"It's quite an emotional event and an immense honour to be on board."

Friday's fly-past at Derwent Water is open to invited guests only and limited to 400 already-allocated parking spaces.

Among them will be Les Munroe, the last remaining Dambusters pilot, who is flying from New Zealand for the event.

The RAF, which is organising the event, took advice from the police after a similar fly-past in 1993 attracted 85,000-people, causing traffic chaos.

Those wanting to see the event are urged to visit Chatsworth.

A spokesman for Chatsworth said: "There is no limit to how many people can attend and everyone should get a great view of the Lancaster wherever they are on the estate."

Derbyshire police have urged people wanting to see the Lancaster not to travel to the Upper Derwent Valley.

Chief Inspector Dick Hargreaves said: "Most of the roads are narrow and on-road parking is not possible.

"Police will have to enforce parking regulations on the A57 and surrounding roads in the interests of public safety."