Jaguar is 50
I was holding at Valley in the summer of 1975 having finished my Gnat course when an ex-UAS chum called to let me know that he would be coming down from Lossie with a pair of Jags, the leader of which would be giving a presentation in the OM that evening. So I went to VASF to welcome him - he told me that he'd needed burner to maintain speed round the final turn as he'd been rather tight downwind. Then I watched with interest as it sprayed an impressive plume of fuel from the rear whilst refuelling - this was due to some vent valve which often got stuck. The cure was to get on top of the fuselage, stroll down to the fin and jump up and down. No elf 'n safety back then, but refuelling complete I drove him back to the mess to watch the presentation.
Which was a farce. "DON'T use 'back' on the projector or the slide carrier will fall out - there's some fault", the presenter had been told by the groundschool chap whose projector was to be used. But he didn't listen, so when he did so the slide carrier shot out as briefed, depositing all the slides across the floor. He stuffed them back in any old order, so the presentation was a random sequence of slides, to which he ad-libbed.
Then came the crowning glory - some HUD camera film in full colour of low level flying in the Jag. Which would have been great, but he hadn't told the groundschool chap that the HUD had a Telford camera - so the whole film was 90 deg out! "You'll need to turn your heads, I'm afraid", said the presenter, whilst the groundschool chap muttered "If you'd told me it was Telford film, I'd have brought the converter. Too late now!". Of course the WIWOLs poured a deal of scorn on the presentation - "Is your jet as ****e as your presentation, mate?" was one rather cruel question!
My ex-UAS chum told me that thrust was very unimpressive on take-off - there was no question of the leader throttling back slightly during a pairs take-off, so whoever got airborne first became leader. But that was back in 1975; over the years the Jag got better and better and was a valued asset in both Iraq and Bosnia. In its final GR3A version it was a mighty fine jet, but was sadly killed off by Buff Hoon's defence cuts...
Which was a farce. "DON'T use 'back' on the projector or the slide carrier will fall out - there's some fault", the presenter had been told by the groundschool chap whose projector was to be used. But he didn't listen, so when he did so the slide carrier shot out as briefed, depositing all the slides across the floor. He stuffed them back in any old order, so the presentation was a random sequence of slides, to which he ad-libbed.
Then came the crowning glory - some HUD camera film in full colour of low level flying in the Jag. Which would have been great, but he hadn't told the groundschool chap that the HUD had a Telford camera - so the whole film was 90 deg out! "You'll need to turn your heads, I'm afraid", said the presenter, whilst the groundschool chap muttered "If you'd told me it was Telford film, I'd have brought the converter. Too late now!". Of course the WIWOLs poured a deal of scorn on the presentation - "Is your jet as ****e as your presentation, mate?" was one rather cruel question!
My ex-UAS chum told me that thrust was very unimpressive on take-off - there was no question of the leader throttling back slightly during a pairs take-off, so whoever got airborne first became leader. But that was back in 1975; over the years the Jag got better and better and was a valued asset in both Iraq and Bosnia. In its final GR3A version it was a mighty fine jet, but was sadly killed off by Buff Hoon's defence cuts...
Very interesting video. Was surprised at the squadron commander when he said he wants the type of chap who won't eject when he takes a bird strike at low level, but who brings the plane back to him. This is contrary to a USAF training video from around the same time that someone posted a while back, where they encourage pilots not to think twice about ejecting, noting 'the aircraft can be replaced, the pilot can't'. Wonder what the advice is today?
Also, "a million-and-a-half pound aircraft" - those were the days...
Also, "a million-and-a-half pound aircraft" - those were the days...
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Originally Posted by ShyTorque 
Ground marshaling signals training at Cosford doesn't really count, though.
Ground marshaling signals training at Cosford doesn't really count, though.
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Nice view, if a little blurry.
"5 O-levels" ... the guy with 10 x O and 4 x A was a bit overkill, but at least they didn't need a Degree. I managed with 6 x O
And, oh, the civvy clothes we wore back then. Gruesome!!
"5 O-levels" ... the guy with 10 x O and 4 x A was a bit overkill, but at least they didn't need a Degree. I managed with 6 x O
And, oh, the civvy clothes we wore back then. Gruesome!!
the guy with 10 x O and 4 x A was a bit overkill,
He is now the owner and Chairman of a very successful family business in our area.
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Never fear I am here 
I have to agree with what was said above re-servicability, we would deploy with half of the kit and engineers a Phantom sqdn would take, indeed on one detachment we were outnumbered by a huge amount. They rarely went wrong and when they did they were often easy to fix.
As for the venting, that was quite a common problem, we had Hesseltine visiting RAFG to inspect a pair of Jags in the HAS and watch a scramble... As with all things bullsh*t they had German contactors in to shotblast the interior walls and floor then repaint it so the HAS looked like new, the Jags were laid out with the customary loads displayed in front and the Sqn number formed out of 30mm Aden belts. I was then stupidly asked to refuel the dog of the fleet for venting which was at the back, having repeatedly asked to get it out as it vents badly I was told to get on with it, So I did and it chucked it out the donkey's d*ck faster than the bowser could shove it in. the rear of the HAS was flooded.
Hesseltine was due and with great haste tons of chickensh*t was deposited over the fuel by the many before the few arrived, shovelling it up and legging it the HAS was left stinking of fuel with a ruddy great stain on the floor where the combination soaked into the porous surface from shot blasting along with loose bits of chickensh*t.... and then the blame game started after he had left, with fingers pointing in my general direction even though I repeatedly told the muppets exactly what would happen.
Every Jaguar thread I have read, people who tick the above boxes pop in to make unnecessary puerile comment. Happened on the last Jaguar thread as well, which is why I am guessing you can't find it.
I have to agree with what was said above re-servicability, we would deploy with half of the kit and engineers a Phantom sqdn would take, indeed on one detachment we were outnumbered by a huge amount. They rarely went wrong and when they did they were often easy to fix.
As for the venting, that was quite a common problem, we had Hesseltine visiting RAFG to inspect a pair of Jags in the HAS and watch a scramble... As with all things bullsh*t they had German contactors in to shotblast the interior walls and floor then repaint it so the HAS looked like new, the Jags were laid out with the customary loads displayed in front and the Sqn number formed out of 30mm Aden belts. I was then stupidly asked to refuel the dog of the fleet for venting which was at the back, having repeatedly asked to get it out as it vents badly I was told to get on with it, So I did and it chucked it out the donkey's d*ck faster than the bowser could shove it in. the rear of the HAS was flooded.
Hesseltine was due and with great haste tons of chickensh*t was deposited over the fuel by the many before the few arrived, shovelling it up and legging it the HAS was left stinking of fuel with a ruddy great stain on the floor where the combination soaked into the porous surface from shot blasting along with loose bits of chickensh*t.... and then the blame game started after he had left, with fingers pointing in my general direction even though I repeatedly told the muppets exactly what would happen.
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2009. The majority of the GR3s had hit 7000 FH, certainly the ones retired in 2006. They had not long left regardless. India were still bringing new frames on stream when the RAF was retiring theirs. Nutloose, seems some people have got an old RAF one ground running again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY_EZenX2X4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY_EZenX2X4
Stories stories. I first flew the GR1 in 1974. I really wanted Buccaneers after my 'promised' posting to TSR2 went down the toilet. I found the Jaguar easy to fly, but hard work to operated. Compared with my Canberra, a more complex mission (no autopilot, new technology, ECM and complicated systems), I struggled. But I lived, though many of my mates did not. Percentage wise it could be argued that we lost more Jaguars in the early days than the Germans lost Starfighters (The Widow Maker). But I am proud to be a WIWOJs and would not have missed it for the world. Here I am very recently at the Boscombe museum. I was the very last RAF pilot to fly XX 734
