The Last Jaguar T2 Retires

[LOMCEVAK]

The last Jaguar TMk 2A, ZB615, made its final flight from Boscombe Down yesterday. It was the last British Jaguar to be built and spent most of its life at Farnborough, and then from April 1994 was at Boscombe Down. For those who flew this mark and the GR1A, the 5:1 geared HUD is no more!

Obviously there are still 2-seat Jags flying, but they are all T Mk 4s.

At least the old girl had a good send off on a nice day, with a couple of flypasts at Boscombe accompanied by the last red, white and blue Hawk (XX342), and a flypast at Warton.

[Heliport]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/Rotorheads/444492.jpg

Photograp by Bernie Condon

[lightningmate]

LOMCEVAK,

Hi Buddy, where and what is the ultimate fate of the relatively young lady. Reasonably fond memories of numerous activities in her cockpits - god what an admission from a Lightning guy!

However, I will never forget my first take-off with full under wing tanks fitted. As the gear came up, it just stopped and vibrated in the sky.

lm

[LOMCEVAK]

Lightningmate,

I am honestly not sure but I will find out and let you know. I do know that the engines will go to a good home. ZB615 and XX833, the other Jag at Boscombe, are the only ones still with Mk 104 engines - so now 833 has 2 spare engines!

Rgds

L

[Genghis the Engineer]

Scanning my logbook, I see three back-seat sorties in XX615, on one of which we actually seem to have brought her back fully serviceable! (One one date I see in the margin four separate significant failures in one 1:05 sortie!).

Without doubt an excellent aeroplane in particular for Lomcevak's particular flying trade - I trust you're not running out of suitable TP training ships!

G

[jumpseater]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/rrjag/CRW_6026.jpg
Coming...

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/rrjag/CRW_6030.jpg
COMING....

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/rrjag/CRW_6032.jpg
GONE!......Adios!....

[chevvron]

'615 was the 'old' RAE Farnborough Jag. I remember it operating on NVG development; no lights on aircraft or airfield but the afterburners gave the game away!