Harrier gone - Dominie next?

[Mandator]

As we mourn the Harrier, has demise of the Dominie been overlooked? Heard a rumour that today may be its last.

[Diablo Rouge]

I heard that rumour also. However the 'need' or rather lack of it cannot be denied in this case, nevertheless the Dominie airframe has had laudable service and should be celebrated not mourned.

[camelspyyder]

It goes at the end of Jan. We still operate 709 which was the first one delivered in '64 so it would be nice if that was the last one flying also.

CS

[Lukeafb1]

We still have Dominies?? I thought they went out in the 80s.

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

Forgive me being a bit melancholy, but the imminent demise of Dominie (and what aircraft looks smarter than a Dominie in the black and white scheme) means that in my modest RAF career, we have lost:

Wessex
Gazelle
Nimrod
Harrier
Jaguar
Bulldog
Dominie
Canberra
Tornado F3 (very soon)
Jetstream
Chipmunk

In the same period, we have gained:

Merlin
Sentinel
Typhoon
Tutor
King Air

Not a happy picture, is it?

[green granite]

They're getting a bit long in the tooth now.

[pma 32dd]

When the Dom goes, what will the RAF do with its remaining supply of 2 stroke?

[Diablo Rouge]

I think they should paint the oldest one silver with yellow 'Training bands' before retirement, which puts into perspective just how long it has been in service. There is no other aircraft in the inventory qualified to return to that livery.

[Bismark]

I

n the same period, we have gained:

Merlin
Sentinel
Typhoon
Tutor
King Air

And you are about to lose Merlin and Sentinel.

[JTIDS]

But we have got the C-17 as well!

[Wycombe]

....and the C130J (was really a new fleet, maybe it should be on both the "gains" and "losses" list?) and Reaper, with the A400M and A330 to come (at some point!).

But, point taken, the losses far outweigh the gains

(with the above additions, the Timmy and Vickers Funbus will also go, of course)

[Cows getting bigger]

Oh Torque, get some time in Adding to your list (bearing in mind I joined in the mid 80s):

Lightning
Andover
Devon
Hunter
Buccaneer
F4
Harrier GR3/T4
F2
Jet Provost 3/4/5
Gazelle

[TheSmiter]

Dominie gone
Nimrod gone

one RAF career consigned to history in the blink of an eye. Still, as CDS says, change is good and we must look to the future .........

Why can I only hear tumbleweed blowing in the wind?

Spider I trust you're planning a 16 ship fly past of Dominie related airfields? Is P for Pig still around? Many happy sorties in her, not least my 'Oceanic HF' trip terminating in a weekend at Gatow - what Reykjavik ACC and our Soviet listener friends made of it I'll never know However, Big Jimmy and I had a great time doing the sights of 80's Berlin inc 'Charlie', the Wall, Gate and other places not listed under Lonely Planet.

I enjoyed it so much I had to refly! Yay!

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

get some time in

Fair point! Is Whirlwind perhaps missing from your list?

C-17 as well

Oops, my mistake...

[airpolice]

And where might I ask is the Gnat still being flown by the RAF?


Did anyone else notice the Varsity is missing?

Both were in service when I joined in 73.

[Algy]

In which case the Pembroke should make an appearance, along with its Alvis Leonides radial donks.

[Algy]

And Hastings come to that. TG507 still being on the books in ´74 I´m pretty sure, but I guess for not much longer after that.

[Big Tudor]

And may I respectfully add Shackleton to your list TotD?

[Willard Whyte]

Avro Shackleton went in '91.

I Just about saw that one go.

EDIT: OOoo, beaten to it by a gnat's chuff.

[bobward]

Smiter

Change is inevitable, unless you're dealing with a vending machine.....