Jaguars
 

I'm seeking some help with a project I'm tackling on the Jaguar. Does anyone know of any former Jaguar people and where I might be able to reach them? I'd really like to get some information on operations, handling, things like that.

Also, I'm on the hunt for photographs from the earlier days in the Jaguar's career, especially the prototypes, early production aircraft and export machines.

If anyone has any pointers I'd be very grateful! :)

I have some old buddies. I'll see if I can get in touch.

Alber Ratman is your man. He has been researching the development of the aircraft from the National archives at Kew and has been up to Warton to look at their archives. He is also an admin for the SEPECAT Jaguar Appreciation Society page on Facebook which has a large number of Jaguar aircrew and Ground crew on it.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/174883289270119/

BH - Ouch!

Well at least he got some sensation of speed in the end.

Jaguars
 

WH904.
I flew the beast, but at the end of its life rather than the beginning. Alber Ratman is definitely your man from an engineering standpoint.
BV

Bob

Alber has dug up the development and trials reports which highlight some of the problems with the jet all the way up to its first ten years of service (there are documents at Kew that cover up to 1983/4). Paints the very good reasons why the French canned the Jaguar M.

Jaguars
 

Only two years before the UK though!
BV

Bob, MAINJAFAD is referring to the Jaguar M, the naval version. Only one prototype was built. I'm guessing you're thinking of the last French AF versions which were retired in 2005?

-RP

Of course there is a well known ex jag pilot on here in the shape of Mike Rondot

Jaguars
 

My bad. RTFQ!
BV

Wasn't ACM Jock Stirrup a Jag pilot in its early days?

We had an OC Flying at Farnborough who, when posted to Boscombe Down, very soon became the first to do a 'Martin Baker' from a Jaguar.

ISTR that newt is also the expert on wing strength in the context of architectural reorganisation...

Ian Hall's "Jaguar Boys" book has done the Ops side to death. Martin W Bowman's "Jaguar Tactical/strike/Everything" has done very similar. What is the project you are doing. I do have virtually every photo going from BAES heritage, Warton. If you are doing a book mind, you will have to get their permission to use them. I have scans of most of national archive files that are interesting including a lot of the JMC meeting notes (not the treasury ones mind, too much maths figures to be very interesting). Was looking at a Haynes technical book, but they have binned doing them. Too busy nowadays rebuilding a Jaguar. PM me.

Yes chevron, the OC flying who decided that the T Bird needed more high alpha testing with stores at altitude. As mentioned in Gp Capt Hall's book by a contributor who was on the JCU instructors conversion course, that goes on about the fact that at the time the aircraft wasn't cleared to drop anything at low level (which is backed by JMC notes around that time). Have only browsed that book in Jarrods, BV, as the publisher was going to send me a copy and hasn't yet. Coggers has the last chapter and mentions the 40Kg landing after the dropper feed failure. Sure the tanks were blown off that time, vague memories that it was RCS, but could be wrong?

Thanks very much for the helpful replies. I will PM accordingly in order to spare readers the details!:)

Ehh... They still seem to be doing lots of them?
They can't be selling many car manuals these days...:8
http://www.haynes.co.uk/wcsstore/Hay...cans/H5287.jpg

Jaguars
 

Alber.
It was a Kiwi but older than RCS. Much more pale if you know what I mean! And yes he did land without the drops. One of them washed up in Kent I think it was a few months later. Or maybe Lowestoft.
BV

I flew Jaguars for 9 years!