Harrier Last Flight (Merged)

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Well, that's the last aircraft of all the types I flew now out of service. I guess I'm now officially old. Still, might as well revel in it rather than be put in a museum myself. I think I'll build a WWI replica and fly that.

[A2QFI]

Because the tax-paying public didn't know they were coming and didn't see them, perhaps? Could you personally fly in a 16 aircraft formation without some practice? Probably not!

[D120A]

Just in case no one else says it, thank you Tom Hill for those photographs. Breathtaking.

[Stratofreighter]

The route...

Yet another NOTAM for tomorrow (wednesday). New timings for certain bases.

Parent ICAO: EGTT
Start date/time: 15/12/2010 12:55 UTC
End date/time: 15/12/2010 14:10 UTC
Activity period: null
Lower height limit: 000
Upper height limit: 030

FORMATION TRANSIT BY 16 MIL FAST JET ACFT ACFT. THE FORMATION WILL
FORM UP IN VCY OF 5239N 00033E (MARHAM AD) FM 1305 HR AND THEN ROUTE:
5239N 00033E (MARHAM AD) 1318 HR
5221N 00006W (WYTON AD) 1322 HR
5219N 00014W (BRAMPTON) 1325 HR
5237N 00029W (WITTERING AD) 1326 HR
5239N 00029W (STAMFORD) 1327 HR
5302N 00029W (CRANWELL AD) 1331 HR
5310N 00031W (WADDINGTON AD)1332 HR
5318N 00033W (SCAMPTON AD) 1334 HR
5306N 00010W (CONINGSBY AD) 1341 HR
5244N 00039W (COTTESMORE AD)1345 HR
5240N 00044W (OAKHAM) 1346 HR
5244N 00039W (COTTESMORE AD)1350 HR
THE FORMATION WILL REMAIN IN VCY OF 5244N 00039W (COTTESMORE AD)
UNTIL 1400 HR PRIOR TO LANDING. TIMINGS, HGT AND ROUTE ARE APRX AND
MAY CHANGE DUE TO WX OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS. 10-12-0055/AS 1

All times local/GMT

And it should look like this, as seen at Wyton tuesday afternoon:

[BootFlap]

Goodbye my dear Harrier, and Thank you for having me.

Good bye old girl, I'll miss you and everyone on the squadrons. I hope the press give you the coverage you deserve later on today (for 41 years of service), and if not maybe PPrune will?

[soddim]

Bye Bye, Bona mate.

[Easy Street]

Sad to think I'll never hear the Pegasus roar again.

Surely you mean the whine? Which, as per age-old banter, will no doubt continue in various corners of the air force for years to come!

Seriously, though, very best wishes to all on JFH for the big day.

[Rocket2]

WN - at least you get a chance to see it - us poor folk living outside the Lincolnshire borders aren't so lucky! Good Luck to all the JFH folk on this especially sad day.
R2

[tezzer]

A sad day indeed. Another British technological marvel retired before it's time, IMHO.

[david parry]

BBC News - Final flight for UK's Harriers at RAF Cottesmore BBC News - How to fly a Harrier Jump Jet

[60024]

Weather not looking to good today for the flypast today. 6K & 600ft cloudbase at Marham at best this afternoon. Not the weather to be flying in a 16 ship.....

Hope it improves.

[Flap62]

White Noise.

You really are a complete spanker.

I don't like resorting to low brow insults but when someone with no idea spouts ill informed and disrespectful bilge then my patience wears somewhat.

[Charley]

Is there anyone on the inside sufficiently close enough to suggest when a go/no-go decision might be made? The cloudbase is pretty low around Lincoln, but it would be a shame to miss it if they launch. Not far from here to three of the named bases due for the final hurrah...

[tezzer]

Saddened that they are not coming North of the Humber !

[Epsilon minus]

At some point the country will wake up and give the government of the day a clear mandate to re-arm the forces.

They will have knocked down the last church and put the finishing touches to the newest mosque before that ever happens.

[Stitchbitch]

No more Bootflap mods...sigh. Laarparts and Cott, 6 years polishing lids for BAD,BAK,DIK,HED (& many others, but they didn't raise a chuckle when the flypro came out ). The puffer jet is dead, long live the puffer jet !

[just another jocky]

Go decision made I believe, but they've not come anywhere near Marham (OVC 300ft).

Shall watch BBC news tonight.

[philrigger]

Flypast Cancelled For Today.

[YOURCASSANDRA]

Reason for Harrier chop?

I heard a very interesting story from a very senior person last Thursday. The MoD had advised the PM that the Tornados and not the Harriers should be decommissioned.
It is alleged that the night before the SDR announcement, three senior RAF officers visited the PM and got him to ignore the advice from the MoD.
So next day, the MoD was as surprised as everyone else.
If there is any truth in this, has anyone any idea who these officers were, and their motivation?

[peppermint_jam]

Strange, I just heard that they all got airborne a short while ago. Perhaps a practice? Anyone at Cott confirm/deny?