The "Harrier" Final days PHOTO. Tribute. (Set 1 of 3)

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

This is my Photo. tribute to the final days of the "Harrier"

(Mods. please move this thread if you think it is better on another Forum)

I covered the final days in three sessions, so follows three seperate sets of Photos. over three "posts".
They are a result of sessions in the recent very cold/wet/windy/weather!!!!!
The conditions did not make for best Photography, but it was a "Must do" situation. The results are mixed but overall I was pleased with them.
Hope they meet with approval, observations/comment welcome. Enjoy!!


SET 1
RAF Wittering, pm Thursday 9th Dec 2010
http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/1WitteringDec2010.jpg


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http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/3WitteringDec2010.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/4WitteringDec2010.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/5WitteringDec2010.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/6WitteringDec2010.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/7WitteringDec2010.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/8WitteringDec2010.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/9WitteringDec2010.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/10WitteringDec2010.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/11WitteringDec2010.jpg



OPF

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

RAF Cottesmore, pm Monday 13th Dec. 2010



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/1DSC_0732copy.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/2DSC_0741copy2.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/3DSC_0748copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/4DSC_0753copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/5DSC_0759copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/6DSC_0798_1copy2.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/7DSC_0800copy.jpg


ZD437
http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/8ZD437Tail49DSC_0803copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/9DSC_0813copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/10DSC_0837copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/11DSC_0840_1copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/12DSC_0847copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/13DSC_0849copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/14DSC_0850copy2.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20Cottesmore%20Monday%2013th%20December%202010/15DSC_0858copy2.jpg


OPF

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

THE FINAL DAY ARRIVES.

RAF Cottesmore, pm Wednesday 15th Dec. 2010

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/1DSC_0012copy3.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/2DSC_0020copy3.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/3DSC_0034copy2.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/4DSC_0044copy.jpg


http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/5DSC_0056copy.jpg

(ZH657)

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/6DSC_0057copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/7DSC_0074copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/8DSC_0099copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/9DSC_0107copy.jpg




http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/10DSC_0116_1copy.jpg

(ZD433)

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/11DSC_0119_1copy2ZD443-45.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/12DSC_0133_1copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/13DSC_0138_1copy2.jpg



The final long taxi back to retirement!!!

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/14DSC_0123_1copy.jpg


This photo. I think is a fitting end shot to "Cottesmore"
Photo. taken on Monday 13th Dec. But I think its apt.

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Harrier%20last%20days%20Wittering%20%20and%20Cottesmore/Harriers%20last%20day%20Cottesmore%20Wednesday%20December%20 15/15DSC_0906copy.jpg





OPF

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

Would you be ok to move /resubmitt your reply to be after the Final set of Pics? (3 of 3)
I dont want to appear cheeky but it breaks up the sequence, with thanks.

Yes I do have other Aircraft photos.
60,000+ Slides 1975-2005
Hundreds of Digital "Files " Average content 200-300 photos per "File" from 2005 -2010 and ongoing!!!!!!
OPF

[Foxtrot.Oscar]

There is always one..

Thanks for sharing OPF, such a sad sight :sad:

[Party Animal]

FO

Concur - it brings a lump to the throat - so very sad indeed...

[baffman]

Great pictures. Thank you very much indeed.

[Airborne Aircrew]

OPF:

You have managed to combine two things in that series of images. Firstly, the end of a great era and one that will be sadly missed by both those who were there at the the start and those who will miss them in action today. Secondly, you have in there a few incredible images in a photographic sense. The combination of the two makes for quite a remarkable and memorable set... Thank you for your effort and skill.

:D:D:D:D:D

[alisoncc]

As a Vulcan and Lightning avionics eng, I can appreciate the shear beauty of such a fabulous aircraft. But it belonged to an era when the costs of going to war were considered irrelevant. Given the brute force necessary to lift the Harrier vertically, the quantity of fuel being burnt must have been ginormous. Not dissimilar to a Lighning sticking it's tail down and climbing vertically after lift-off. Read somewhere about how much of their fuel load was expended in the first few minutes after takeoff and in getting to operational altitude. Glad I wasn't personally picking up the tab.

[Double Zero]

Interesting to see 321 in 'modern' warpaint, I haven't seen it since in original green livery.

This aircraft was used for some development work at Dunsfold; a clown in the hangar tried to get it nick-named 'Dusty Bin', apparently after the appalling 'Countdown 321' TV programme.

We in Photographic would have given our eye teeth for the digital cameras available off the shelf now...

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

Great work OPF...love the retro paint schemes! :ok:

Always sad when a type is retired before its structural hours have expired.:sad:

[ATFQ]

ZZZZZZZZZZ

[John Farley]

I am afraid you have been poorly advised about fuel consumption (but you are not the first).

Let us take it one step at a time:

The Harrier has a jet engine.

The amount of fuel you can burn in a jet engine depends on the amount of air going though it.

In the hover or during a VTO the engine is sucking in air.

When you are flying fast the air is rammed in.

If you want to see some high fuel flows then get going fast - you will be surprised especially at low level on a cold day.

With your new found knowledge you will now realise why the Harrier uses less fuel from VTO until it reaches its cruising speed on the first leg heading than it does using a conventional takeoff (and one of those silly runways that are never pointing in the direction you want to go)

JF

[Thelma Viaduct]

Excellent pics.

How many Harrier pilots were operational at the time of Harrier retirement & what are they generally up to at the moment?

Are many of them being converted to Tornado/Typhoon?

Are the Harriers going in to long term storage or getting smashed up?

[ATFQ]

ZZZZZZZZZZ

[chiglet]

OPF,
Thanks for sharing. :D
ra :mad:

[tezzer]

That acually brought a tear to my eye, another sad reflection on our once great Country.

[iRaven]

With your new found knowledge you will now realise why the Harrier uses less fuel from VTO until it reaches its cruising speed on the first leg heading than it does using a conventional takeoff (and one of those silly runways that are never pointing in the direction you want to go)

JF

Excuse my questioning of the great "Harrier God", but if FJ VTOL was so wonderful then why did Harrier ever use a runway or ski-jump?

I know that it probably has a lot to do with MTOW and "bring back", but you could argue that fuel consumption would be exponential in VTOL compared to CTOL when at high weights...at some point CTOL consumption will eventually be better than VTOL! :}

iRaven

[John Farley]

Please pay attention!

The problem with VTO is that your payload is limited on takeoff (NOT bring back we have not started yet) otherwise your thrust will not exceed weight so if you want to takeoff at maximum weight you need to add a bit of wing lift so need to do an STO.

On board ship an STO when the sea is V rough can be disappointing if you get to the bow just as it points down at the sea.

So to enable max sea state ops you need a ski jump to make sure you are going up and away. It also has many other advantages in reducing deck run, leaving space behind for folk to land on, do turn rounds or whatever.

but you could argue that fuel consumption would be exponential in VTOL compared to CTOL when at high weights.

Dunno wot that means. Exponential is a long word (and it has a specific meaning)

The reason a VTO uses less fuel that a CTO is JUST ABOUT THE TIME.

When you lift off from a VTO you can rotate round with the rudder pedals on to the heading you want and dart off. The STO requires a taxy out somewhere (20/lb per min) then after TO you have to take more time at full throttle as you turn from the runway direction on to the heading for your first leg.

The difference in fuel saved on a VTO to crusing speed on heading is only about 30 lbs but that is not the point. It uses less and the problem with a VTO is NOT NOT NOT fuel consumption.

Bye

[Bluejay]

Great photos, the Harrier will be missed

[OldBonaMate]

OPF
Thanks for a great set of farewell images. Excellent tribute to a great machine.

Let's hope we don't have to project fixed wing airpower to anywhere that is hard to get at because without this capability we will find it rather difficult.

Happiness should still be vectored thrust!!

[iRaven]

JF

Many thanks for your explanation - all is clear now! :ok:

iRaven

[PhamousPhotographer]

I’ll use the adjective as the excuse for these three from March 2010. Eighth of, to be exact, as the then-OC IV (AC) Squadron, Wing Commander Harv Smyth acknowledges the camera while taxying GR9 ZG859 from JHC Aldergrove’s dispersal to the threshold of rwy 07 -

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0108-03-2010PhamousPhotographer.jpg

for this STO with BFS passenger terminal as the backdrop.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0208-03-2010PhamousPhotographer.jpg

To my almost certain knowledge it marked the final departure of the type from the NI base. Apt, as the Wg Cdr is an Ulsterman.

Here, against the light, he bids farewell.

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image0308-03-2010PhamousPhotographer.jpg

[BEagle]

Sad to see the premature demise of the 'bona jet' - but what excellent photos.

The first photo of mine which AFM ever published was of the then new GR5 over the Alps as we trailed it to the Dubai airshow in 1989. The jet stole the show - and we did a pairs take-off from the parallel runways on the way home! I flew the VC10K2 and the late Chris Moran flew the GR5 - as soon as we were airborne he tucked in and off we went to Akrotiri. At least I think it was Chris; it might have been John Baynton.

We'd asked permission to take the press flying on a simple AAR trip with the GR5 during the show, but needless to say 'they' said no!

I just hope that someone will take the sane decision to keep the remaining Harriers well-preserved and in potentially airworthy condition. Because sure as eggs are eggs, the Government's crass decision will prove to have been unsound before too many months have passed....

[Could be the last?]

It's a shame we didn't have a few GRs as top cover/cas over Xmg, that would have given the locals something to think about...................:E

[iRaven]

I've probably been taking the "thicky pills" but never did understand why it was called 'the bona jet' - was it made up by the same people who make up their own nicknames because their current one isn't cool?

'Jumping Bean' - yup
'Plastic Pig' - yup
'Jump Jet Fanny and Her Hawker Siddeley Tw@t" - yup
'Whistling Sh!tcan" - yup
'Jump Jet' - yup
'Leaping Heap' - yup

But 'Bona'? Sorry I'm at a loss...

iRaven

[Neptunus Rex]

Could this provide the answer?

YouTube - Kenneth Williams, Keep Britain Bona (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMMSSseKCmM)

Hugh Paddick, Kenneth Williams and Kenneth Horne,

From "Round the Horne" BBC Radio, circa 1970 something.

[Lima Juliet]

iRaven

No idea either but I have heard "Flying Tea Trolley" and "Nozzley-Nozzley Jet".

LJ :ok:

PPS For the Argies it was "la Muerta Negra" (the Black Death) referring to the Charcoal Grey Camouflage on SHARs

[chiglet]

PPS For the Argies it was "la Muerta Negra" (the Black Death) referring to the Charcoal Grey Camouflage on SHARs

IIRC, it was "Extra Dark Sea Grey"..:ok:

[Lima Juliet]

By golly you're right...

http://aces.safarikovi.org/victories/obr1/aircraft_harrier_frs.1_faa3.jpg

Still no answer why "bona jet" though apart from iRaven's speculation (I never did like made up nicknames!).

:=

[iRaven]

To quote my favourite film 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off':

"Why is it called the 'Bona Jet'? Anyone??? Anyone??? Anyone???"

http://cache.reelzchannel.com/assets/content/article/stein_bueller.gif

Come on, someone must know??!

iRaven

[PhamousPhotographer]

It's a shame we didn't have a few GRs as top cover/cas over XmgYou forgot about the 1994 trials then? An escapee from the SHFNI thread - just under the cloudbase in typical ARB weather!!:ooh:

http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx299/PhamousPhotographer/Image01PhamousPhotographer.jpg

[bonajet]

Hello iRaven - the term bonajet was already in use in the early 70s when I joined. I always thought that it came from Round the Horne with Julian and Sandy.

Julian and Sandy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_and_Sandy)

Bona was a Polari word that they attached to loads of items. As to the moment of its birth in the Harrier world, you'd probably need someone from the start in 69. I bet it was Whartie or Keith H.

[BOAC]

I'll hazard a guess - 'Bona' as in 'Good' (Latin) and as used by the two straight guys, Julian and Sandy, and I think 'coined' by the venerable 'Hoof' well before my time on the jet (bona) to reflect what fun it was and what a breath of fresh air to those who had flown only 'conventional' jets.. I suspect it were originated in No1(Balloon) Sqn and was certainly in use in the early 70's. I'm sure JF will know better!

[John Farley]

Sorry I cannot add anything. At the time one became aware of the term it seemed perfectly reasonable and just squadron usage.

Bit like wet jet was used before SHAR became the norm.

[iRaven]

Chaps

Many thanks, that's another gap in my knowledge of aviation filled. I guess the reason "Why Bona?" wasn't widely known as it didn't fit in with the macho FJ pilot image of the 70s and 80s (Polari being a predominantly Gay slang language used mainly by homosexuals in Soho in London during the 60s).

Neptunus - thanks for the pointer, but you were too subtle for me!

iRaven

PS - I guess the Harrier can 'come out of the closet' now as it perfectly acceptable these days...:p

[BOAC]

Polari being a predominantly Gay slang language used mainly by homosexuals in Soho in London during the 60s - well, we 'chaps' did occasionally visit Shepherd's Market, you know, sweetie:)

[noprobs]

Polari is explained here: Polari - British gay slang (http://www.chris-d.net/polari/)

Use by Bona Mates of what appeared to be exclusive terminology did attract the odd caricature from outsiders, such a the supposed reference to a good social event as a Napoleon (a bona party).