Heron Flight - End Of An Era

[T3fan]

Today (Mon 29 Sept) the final RN Jetstream T3 will depart RNAS Yeovilton for the last time, heralding the sad closure of Heron Flight and the end of an RN fixed wing operational support and communications capability dating back to WW2.

On behalf of all on Heron Flight we would like to thank everybody who has worked for us, helped and supported us over the years. In particular, we want to thank those who have spent considerable time and effort over the past 9 months in the valiant but ultimately failed battle to save us.

Personally, I would also like to pay tribute to the incredibly professional and dedicated SERCO personnel, who have worked tirelessly over many years to cement Heron Flights enviable reputation for reliability, flexibility and punctuality. A more loyal and ‘can do’ bunch you could not wish to meet; they do not deserve this and I wish them all the very best in their quest for new employment.

Although now is not the time to apportion blame (they know who they are!) it would be nice to know that in future livelihoods are not sacrificed as a result of dubious accounting and petty inter-service rivalry. Heron Flight was a lean and cost effective capability that benefitted all 3 services and undoubtedly contributed to the OC of our front line units. It will be sorely missed and very difficult to replace.