Sea Jet
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,968
Likes: 104
From: Devon
That was a well thought out post southside - did you do it by yourself or did someone help you?
A major CVS deployment is coming up - see this from Illustrious or rather her website.
Also it is still possible a few aircraft will be kept where they can be brought back up to a usable state in a real national crisis (like the Falklands). That hopefully should still deter. Six are going to the School of Flight Deck Operations. Different people I've spoken to a have offered different opinions as to whether this is feasible.
According to the Dummy Deck/HMS Siskin page:
The six MoD engineering civilians maintain and taxi a combination of Harrier GR3 and T4 aircraft on the 'flight deck' carrying out simulated launches, recoveries and movements as directed by the Aircraft Handler students under training providing essential realism within an effective safe training environment. Although serviced to a flying condition the engines are gated at 50% power to prevent the Harrier taking off. The Unit undertakes all maintenance operations itself including engine changes
And in future SHars? Maybe this is the best we can hope for. Thanks New Labour.
A major CVS deployment is coming up - see this from Illustrious or rather her website.
Also it is still possible a few aircraft will be kept where they can be brought back up to a usable state in a real national crisis (like the Falklands). That hopefully should still deter. Six are going to the School of Flight Deck Operations. Different people I've spoken to a have offered different opinions as to whether this is feasible.
According to the Dummy Deck/HMS Siskin page:
The six MoD engineering civilians maintain and taxi a combination of Harrier GR3 and T4 aircraft on the 'flight deck' carrying out simulated launches, recoveries and movements as directed by the Aircraft Handler students under training providing essential realism within an effective safe training environment. Although serviced to a flying condition the engines are gated at 50% power to prevent the Harrier taking off. The Unit undertakes all maintenance operations itself including engine changes
And in future SHars? Maybe this is the best we can hope for. Thanks New Labour.
Last edited by WE Branch Fanatic; 28th March 2006 at 08:21.
Suspicion breeds confidence
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 15
From: Gibraltar
The School currently uses non-functional Sea King, Lynx, Wessex and Merlin helicopters for training and a Sea King Mk6, with a blade spread/fold capability, will be added in 2003.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 253
From: London/Oxford/New York
Navaleye,
It's one of the early development aircraft, I saw it only recently, there's another one in the RAF MUseum, for some strange reason.
BTW
Do you hate EVERYTHING that is not a SHAR?
It's one of the early development aircraft, I saw it only recently, there's another one in the RAF MUseum, for some strange reason.
BTW
Do you hate EVERYTHING that is not a SHAR?
Joined: Jul 2005
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: northside
Well, the end has arrived.... we all stood outside in the pouring rain and freezing cold in position to wave goodbye to the mighty warriors......and they didn't come cos the weather was poo..... still, the photo looks nice...and you can't tell that the crabs and booties had paperplates on their suedes.
Farewell sweet maiden....you served us well.
Hang on a mo....
A major CVS deployment....!!!! a CVS, A T42 and an RFA......and there going for all of 4 months. How is that a major CVS deployment???? Thats a trip around the buoy and back, not a deployment.
....and don't start me on that complete waste of spave thats clogging up the hangars in Cornwall.
Funny story about the Dummy Deck though....well done for that one.
Does anyone remember the last floating Dummydeck in Portland..??? Best cocktail parties ever.
Farewell sweet maiden....you served us well.
Hang on a mo....
A major CVS deployment is coming up
....and don't start me on that complete waste of spave thats clogging up the hangars in Cornwall.
Funny story about the Dummy Deck though....well done for that one.
Does anyone remember the last floating Dummydeck in Portland..??? Best cocktail parties ever.
Last edited by southside; 27th March 2006 at 23:27.
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,968
Likes: 104
From: Devon
From the 801 NAS website: Farewell Sea Harrier
southside please be quiet. If you have nothing useful to say.........
southside please be quiet. If you have nothing useful to say.........
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 453
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From: Lincs
If you have nothing useful to say.........
That is the biggest example of hypocracy since Henry VIII wrote the foreword to the March 1536 edition of 'Modern Catholicism'!!!!
I notice in the above link that the Sea Harrier made a 'considerable contribution to the first Gulf War'. I seem to remember that no CVS, let alone SHAR were deployed for GW1.
Notwithstanding the limitations of the SHAR these days, I'm sad to see such a piece of Brit engineering retired from the fleet. I can see the logic behind the decision, but it'll still be missed.
Regards,
MM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
From: Lincs
WEBF,
Yes, I think they did. However given the amount of RAF F-4s at Cyprus and USN CAGs in the EMed at the time, it's a bit of a tenuous link. Still, when servicemen in Cyprus completely unrelated to Granby got the gong, it's probably only fair to claim they contributed, if not significantly.
Regards,
MM
Yes, I think they did. However given the amount of RAF F-4s at Cyprus and USN CAGs in the EMed at the time, it's a bit of a tenuous link. Still, when servicemen in Cyprus completely unrelated to Granby got the gong, it's probably only fair to claim they contributed, if not significantly.
Regards,
MM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
WEBF,
I think you will find that this entire thread has been "nothing useful", simply a diversion of people's opinions and general chit-chat.
Does not mean it has not been both fun and frustrating at times.
Cheers
BHR
I think you will find that this entire thread has been "nothing useful", simply a diversion of people's opinions and general chit-chat.
Does not mean it has not been both fun and frustrating at times.
Cheers
BHR
Joined: Jul 2005
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
Posts: 472
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From: northside
Your right boys. Attempting to link HMS Ark Royal to GW1 by saying "it was in the Med" is a bit of a stretch. HMS Invincible was in Scotland at the same time...does that count...
Still. Its over now and we can bury that crock of poo and a complete waste of the tax payers money for ever. Good bye SHAR and good riddance.
Still. Its over now and we can bury that crock of poo and a complete waste of the tax payers money for ever. Good bye SHAR and good riddance.
Suspicion breeds confidence
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 15
From: Gibraltar
Tributes fly in. Surprised not to have read anything by Sharkey Ward.
Sea Harrier stars of Falklands fly for last time
By Richard Savill
(Filed: 29/03/2006)
The Royal Navy's Sea Harrier jump-jets, which played a vital role in the Falklands conflict 24 years ago, made their final flight yesterday.
Tributes were paid to the fighter as the last five from 801 Squadron performed an aerial display at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset, their base for 26 years.
A Royal Navy Sea Harrier passes over the deck of HMS Illustrious
A Sea Harrier passes over the deck of HMS Illustrious
The jets are being decommissioned to make way for new GR7 and GR9 ground attack Harriers. They will be stored pending disposal.
Vice-Adml Adrian Johns, the Second Sea Lord, said: "It is a very emotional day and it is very sad to say farewell to the Sea Harriers, which have contributed so much, especially in the Falklands."
Cdr Henry Mitchell, 43, the longest-serving Sea Harrier pilot, flying them for 21 years, said: "It hasn't quite hit me yet that this is the last time I will fly this amazing jet."
Argentine fighters failed to shoot down any of the 29-strong fleet of Sea Harriers in the Falklands. More recently, the fighter served in the first Gulf war, the Balkans and Sierra Leone.
The two former Sea Harrier squadrons, 801 and 800, are to be reformed with GR7s at RAF Cottesmore, in Rutland, but will retain their naval traditions.
By Richard Savill
(Filed: 29/03/2006)
The Royal Navy's Sea Harrier jump-jets, which played a vital role in the Falklands conflict 24 years ago, made their final flight yesterday.
Tributes were paid to the fighter as the last five from 801 Squadron performed an aerial display at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Somerset, their base for 26 years.
A Royal Navy Sea Harrier passes over the deck of HMS Illustrious
A Sea Harrier passes over the deck of HMS Illustrious
The jets are being decommissioned to make way for new GR7 and GR9 ground attack Harriers. They will be stored pending disposal.
Vice-Adml Adrian Johns, the Second Sea Lord, said: "It is a very emotional day and it is very sad to say farewell to the Sea Harriers, which have contributed so much, especially in the Falklands."
Cdr Henry Mitchell, 43, the longest-serving Sea Harrier pilot, flying them for 21 years, said: "It hasn't quite hit me yet that this is the last time I will fly this amazing jet."
Argentine fighters failed to shoot down any of the 29-strong fleet of Sea Harriers in the Falklands. More recently, the fighter served in the first Gulf war, the Balkans and Sierra Leone.
The two former Sea Harrier squadrons, 801 and 800, are to be reformed with GR7s at RAF Cottesmore, in Rutland, but will retain their naval traditions.
Registered User **
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Cambridge
The two former Sea Harrier squadrons, 801 and 800, are to be reformed with GR7s at RAF Cottesmore, in Rutland, but will retain their naval traditions.
S_H
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,968
Likes: 104
From: Devon
southside you said:
Farewell sweet maiden....you served us well.
Then you changed your mind and said:
Its over now and we can bury that crock of poo and a complete waste of the tax payers money for ever. Good bye SHAR and good riddance
Make your mind up.
I was about to post a link to the Telegraph article that Navaleye has posted. Doh!!
Over on Rum Ration there is another thread on the issue. I think Not_a_boffin sums it up well. See here.
Farewell sweet maiden....you served us well.
Then you changed your mind and said:
Its over now and we can bury that crock of poo and a complete waste of the tax payers money for ever. Good bye SHAR and good riddance
Make your mind up.
I was about to post a link to the Telegraph article that Navaleye has posted. Doh!!
Over on Rum Ration there is another thread on the issue. I think Not_a_boffin sums it up well. See here.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 453
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From: Lincs
However WEBF,
It seems that many FAA chaps have a more pragmatic view of realities and certainly placed Navaleye back in his box when he raised the subject here!
Again, I'm sad to see her go, but the funding realities of today unfortunately left little option.
Regards,
MM
It seems that many FAA chaps have a more pragmatic view of realities and certainly placed Navaleye back in his box when he raised the subject here!
Again, I'm sad to see her go, but the funding realities of today unfortunately left little option.
Regards,
MM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
From: Lincs
Navaleye,
Would that be a nibble old chap? So are you suggesting that the Rum Ration Fleet Airm Arm forum is primarily populated by the Army? From reading the posts and profiles, there seems to be plenty of FAA engineer or aircrew types.
Incidentally, I believe that SHAR pilots past and present will be having a farewell dining in night shortly with the great (if sadly prejudiced) Sharky Ward as guest of honour. I trust and hope that the night sees off a great British fighter type in an appropriate manner. Have one for me chaps!
Regards,
MM
Would that be a nibble old chap? So are you suggesting that the Rum Ration Fleet Airm Arm forum is primarily populated by the Army? From reading the posts and profiles, there seems to be plenty of FAA engineer or aircrew types.
Incidentally, I believe that SHAR pilots past and present will be having a farewell dining in night shortly with the great (if sadly prejudiced) Sharky Ward as guest of honour. I trust and hope that the night sees off a great British fighter type in an appropriate manner. Have one for me chaps!
Regards,
MM