Santa is ditching the sleigh and taking to Somerset skies in a big yellow Sea King helicopter today (Friday, 19 December), flying over schools, hospitals and towns in a massive festive mission.

The annual Santa Fly-By, run by Historic Helicopters from its base near Chard, launched this morning with Santa and his crew set to pass over more than 60 locations across Somerset and North Devon.

Landing stops include Children's Hospice South West near Fremington and North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple, where the team will deliver Christmas gifts to children.

Somerset towns on the route include Minehead, Taunton, Bridgwater, Glastonbury, Somerton, Yeovil, South Petherton and Crewkerne — all expected to get a glimpse of Santa as he flies low overhead.

Santa's Sea King is expected to pass over **Glastonbury at roughly **mid‑morning — around 10:56am to 11.00am. Times can vary slightly with weather and flight conditions, so if you're in Glastonbury it's best to be outside from about 10.45am onwards to catch the flypast.

Organisers have urged families and schoolchildren to give Santa a big wave as he passes by in the distinctive yellow helicopter, a former military Sea King now used for special flights and displays.

The charity flight comes on the last school day before Christmas and has become a firm favourite with children and parents alike.

Gifts have been donated by the helicopter's owner and backed by supporters from across the region.

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Donations are welcome to help keep the tradition flying. Donate to Historic Helicopters.

More local stories:

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• Wells Cathedral gears up for Christmas with carols, crafts and candles
• Somerset police arrest 117 in drink and drug drive blitz
• Shepton Mallet panto Scrooge hits Create#8 Thursday
• The Glastonbury Assembly Rooms urgently need £10,000 to repair the exterior wall
• Somerset waste chiefs issue fire warning as gas canisters found in kerbside bins

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