Amarok
12th Nov 2010, 22:35
A friend of mine who works at RAF Wittering Harrier Simulator has tipped me off that the last flight's of the RAF / NAVY harriers will be in week commencing Monday 13th December. All this week the harriers have been returning from Afganistan and there has been a steady C130 / C17 flights bringing Harrier spares back. The latest I have from him is the RAF Harrier squadrons are trying to get approval to carry out a 9 ship flypast over Wittering , Dunsfold and Yeovilton and finally landing back at Cottesmore.
A couple of Navy bods are trying to get the Harrier to stay but I suspect it is a lost cause. I don't know why the Government want to ground these aircraft, they were designed for close troop support but there you go Also they are not giving us a opportunity to say good bye to the Harrier.
I will try and get more info for everyone the spotting possibilities at Cottesmore are excellent with a public footpath running by the approach lights (At RIAT 2001 which was held at Cottesmore I remember standing 100 yds away from the approach as a load of silly s0ds stood directly behind a Rockwell B1B as it went to full power for take off, they took off before he did !)
As I said more info to follow I will try and put together a guide to parking and spotting at Cottesmore
Regards
Mike
A couple of Navy bods are trying to get the Harrier to stay but I suspect it is a lost cause. I don't know why the Government want to ground these aircraft, they were designed for close troop support but there you go Also they are not giving us a opportunity to say good bye to the Harrier.
I will try and get more info for everyone the spotting possibilities at Cottesmore are excellent with a public footpath running by the approach lights (At RIAT 2001 which was held at Cottesmore I remember standing 100 yds away from the approach as a load of silly s0ds stood directly behind a Rockwell B1B as it went to full power for take off, they took off before he did !)
As I said more info to follow I will try and put together a guide to parking and spotting at Cottesmore
Regards
Mike