Harrier Last Flight (Merged)
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After all, this is Panto Season.
Tributes were paid to the joint force of Royal Navy and RAF Harrier aircraft today as a spectacular flypast across eastern England marked the aircraft's retirement after 41 years of service.
A formation of 16 Harriers took to the skies over Lincolnshire, flying over seven RAF bases, Lincoln Cathedral and the towns of Stamford and Oakham.
A formation of 16 Harriers took to the skies over Lincolnshire, flying over seven RAF bases, Lincoln Cathedral and the towns of Stamford and Oakham.
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Sad though isn't it.
I remember as a teenager seeing the P1127 landing at Tangmere in the 1960s.
Next close up of SHARs was through the camera on a Tristar during AAR a lot of years later.
What a sad day, to think that's the last we're likely to see of them.
Bloody shame, just makes you wonder what argument meant their demise instead of the two new and useless carriers.
I remember as a teenager seeing the P1127 landing at Tangmere in the 1960s.
Next close up of SHARs was through the camera on a Tristar during AAR a lot of years later.
What a sad day, to think that's the last we're likely to see of them.
Bloody shame, just makes you wonder what argument meant their demise instead of the two new and useless carriers.
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A final two fingers being shown by the pilot wearing a non-authorised leather jacket for flying in?!!
Go on , you would wouldn't you?
Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Go on , you would wouldn't you? Harrier Drawdown - week by week
The 'no show' today simply demonstrates another reason why GR4 was kept - TFR gives a low-level marginal-VMC/IFR option!
A sad way for the "puffer jet" to go after bailing us out for axing the Ark Royal too early in the 70s (the last time we had a REAL Carrier STRIKE capability) - roll on 2018/20 to get a decent multi-role carrier capability.
RIP
The B Word
A sad way for the "puffer jet" to go after bailing us out for axing the Ark Royal too early in the 70s (the last time we had a REAL Carrier STRIKE capability) - roll on 2018/20 to get a decent multi-role carrier capability.
RIP
The B Word
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The 'no show' today simply demonstrates another reason why GR4 was kept - TFR gives a low-level marginal-VMC/IFR option!
V sad day, had two great training sorties in the back of Harrier, breathtaking, and left me with a very strong impression of the skills and professionalism of the whole force from the armourer to the pilot.
A strong well equipped armed forces are an important part of our national identity. A source of pride. Today was the opposite, a reason to feel ashamed and unhappy. Oh Britain, what have you become?
Cheap shot, maybe, but a 16 ship TFR airfield attack would still be better than nothing at all - especially at 600kts+ at 250ft (another thing the dear old jumping bean couldn't do).
Anyone know if the CAA will issue a Permit to Fly if a GR9 migrates into civil hands? It is still a worthwhile airshow attraction (as it ever was).
Mr Farley, you should be proud of your efforts Sir. Your achievements on the development of Harrier are an inspiration to this day.
iRaven
Anyone know if the CAA will issue a Permit to Fly if a GR9 migrates into civil hands? It is still a worthwhile airshow attraction (as it ever was).
Mr Farley, you should be proud of your efforts Sir. Your achievements on the development of Harrier are an inspiration to this day.
iRaven
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There is one privately owned and flying in the USA.....from what I understand when he purchased it they never expected it to flown, just a museum piece. The guy happens to have flown them in the USN and his home town had a large number of Harrier engineers on hand so hey presto! Air Show Material!
Somehow I think it was not likely to happen again
just like the F111
here is some footage from my trip to Oshkosh this year
towards the end is the Harrier display!
Somehow I think it was not likely to happen again
just like the F111 here is some footage from my trip to Oshkosh this year
towards the end is the Harrier display!
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# aviate 1138
You are absolutely right. The worst camera work I have ever seen on a live outside broadcast. It just had to be a trainee cameraman. The sound of sixteen Pegasus engines spooling down in unison must have been an evocative, and poignant moment. Unfortunately, we will never know because the BBC news anchors broke away to bring an update on the latest unemployment figures. It seems the only news stories worthy of uninterrupted coverage are the sight of a whale floundering in the Thames river, or aggrieved protesters urinating on historic monuments around Parliament Square.
BBC News - some of the very worst camera work I have ever seen!
Spoilt a poignant moment but then the BBC is no longer what it was!
Spoilt a poignant moment but then the BBC is no longer what it was!
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Shpuld have had a 16 bird run up the Thames, pausing only to deposit someting nasty and noisy on the building with the big clock tower just aside Westminster Bridge.
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A very sad day. I did quite a lot of work on Harrier over the years, including some of the GR9 upgrade trials work. Typical of the MOD to spend several hundred million £ to modernize a fleet then scrap it...
Flew in a T10 in 97, awesome experience. I will always have fond memories of the Harrier. RIP.
And best wishes to everyone in the Harrier world who now faces an uncertain future.
WF
Flew in a T10 in 97, awesome experience. I will always have fond memories of the Harrier. RIP.
And best wishes to everyone in the Harrier world who now faces an uncertain future.
WF
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My most enjoyable tour was with 1(F) when it was getting the GR7 (although it probably wouldn't return the sentiment ).
I was disapointed to have missed being there yesterday, but still - all good things must come to an end and it did us well over the years, so its a time for pride too - however badly premature the decision was/is. Lets face it, not chucking the Irish a few billions would have helped retain skills set and capability.
I'll miss 'em in the sky over Rutland although I heard talk yesterday that they may be retained for Reservists(?) - and will any be sent to Boscombe? Also, if yesterday was the final Operational Flight, are any to be flown out for museums etc too? I'd like to have one final look.
).I was disapointed to have missed being there yesterday, but still - all good things must come to an end and it did us well over the years, so its a time for pride too - however badly premature the decision was/is. Lets face it, not chucking the Irish a few billions would have helped retain skills set and capability.
I'll miss 'em in the sky over Rutland although I heard talk yesterday that they may be retained for Reservists(?) - and will any be sent to Boscombe? Also, if yesterday was the final Operational Flight, are any to be flown out for museums etc too? I'd like to have one final look.
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iRaven.
Please will you just let it go. You say you'd rather see a 16 jet TFR airfield attack? Rather than the 16 jets hovering as per yesterday, which is something the UK will NEVER see again. Stop with the petty cheap digs and let the men and women who have any connection with this feat of engineering reitre with the dignity it deserves.....
BT
Please will you just let it go. You say you'd rather see a 16 jet TFR airfield attack? Rather than the 16 jets hovering as per yesterday, which is something the UK will NEVER see again. Stop with the petty cheap digs and let the men and women who have any connection with this feat of engineering reitre with the dignity it deserves.....
BT
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Lack of Airships
Sir Steve and the others didn't have the balls or respect to be at Cott yesterday. One RN Commodore and allegedly one Air Commode (in Civies so hard to spot).
Sir Steve allegedly had other commitments!!!!!!! and so I suppose did the others.
An appaling lack of respect and another example of poor leadership from the Airships.
Sir Steve allegedly had other commitments!!!!!!! and so I suppose did the others.
An appaling lack of respect and another example of poor leadership from the Airships.
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Excuse me for being an interloper from the private flying forum but living under the approach to Cottesmore on the Lincolnshire Fens, Harriers have been a way of life for us for many years and they will be sorely missed in the skies over my strip.
Now, I have a question that someone on here may be able to answer.
Living where we do, I can safely say that I can tell from the noise alone what type of fast jet is flying overhead and last night I'm convinced I heard a Harrier flying low level over the house.
Could I have imagined it or is there a chance that someone was having a very, very last jolly in one!
Now, I have a question that someone on here may be able to answer.
Living where we do, I can safely say that I can tell from the noise alone what type of fast jet is flying overhead and last night I'm convinced I heard a Harrier flying low level over the house.
Could I have imagined it or is there a chance that someone was having a very, very last jolly in one!
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Gone ... but not for everybody
For whatever reasons, the RAF's Harriers have said their official farewells - but, if it's any consolation, I believe that they're still operational with the air arms of Spain and Italy, not to mention the US Marines, without whose energetic efforts and effective politicking Hawkers would never have been enabled to get it beyond the prototype stage.
I remember many years ago a Wing Commander in 2ATAF commenting that the trouble with operating such an aircraft away from runways was that getting fuel and ammo supplies to dispersed fields and "tennis courts" made it a completely impractical idea.
By that time (early 60s, I guess) RAF Germany seemed to have lost any idea of mobility which 2nd TAF had inherited from the Desert Air Force, up through Tunisia and on through Italy. The whole idea of Tactical used to be BE MOBILE - but once that huge set of buildings at Mônchen Gladbach had been built, "staying put" set in* - and VSTOL operation seemed to be thought of as "inconvenient".
*Except perhaps a mad dash to the nearest coast to catch whatever ship would take them back to UK if the Soviet Hordes started to roll ...
I remember many years ago a Wing Commander in 2ATAF commenting that the trouble with operating such an aircraft away from runways was that getting fuel and ammo supplies to dispersed fields and "tennis courts" made it a completely impractical idea.
By that time (early 60s, I guess) RAF Germany seemed to have lost any idea of mobility which 2nd TAF had inherited from the Desert Air Force, up through Tunisia and on through Italy. The whole idea of Tactical used to be BE MOBILE - but once that huge set of buildings at Mônchen Gladbach had been built, "staying put" set in* - and VSTOL operation seemed to be thought of as "inconvenient".
*Except perhaps a mad dash to the nearest coast to catch whatever ship would take them back to UK if the Soviet Hordes started to roll ...