FighterControl

Been documenting the demise of the E3s for a long time - the first to be withdrawn was ZH105, sometime around 2009/2010 - it was on static at the 2010 airshow already missing a few bits and with a fair amount of tape.
It ended up being an emergency procedures trainer and also spent some time as an aging aircraft program laboratory.

First shot here is from 14th November 2017, showing 105, 107, 101 plus 2 others on Alpha.
107 wasnt withdrawn until 2019, but as is known it never flew in the 54sqd markings, it's already got blanked out windows here.

105 107 101 +2 14.11.17 by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

Similar view from 16th June 22, 107 in the corner, with XM607 awaiting re paint, then 102, 103 and 106. 102 and 107 already missing their signature radar.

107 102 no radar 103 106 16.6.22 by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

The jets then got moved to the southern side of the lazy, behind some buildings.
Here is 101/105/102 on the 10th Feb 23.

1 -ZH101 ZH102 ZH105 10.2.23 by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

And 107

2 - ZH107 10.2.23 by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

Then the same view in May

3 - ZH101 102 105 3.5.23 by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

4 - ZH107 3.5.23 by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

107 minus the vertical stabilizer on 28th June.

5 - ZH107 28.6.23 by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

Then we get to October, the month where all were scrapped.

ZH101 and ZH102 behind. 101 without engines, both without Radomes.

6 - ZH101 7.10.23 by Mike
Hiley, on Flickr

7- ZH102 7.10.23 by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

7th October - 107 had already gone, and 105 was next. The remains of 107 just to the right.

8 - ZH105 and ZH107 pile 7.10.23 by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

9th October - 12 noon, ZH105

9 - ZH105 12 noon 9.10.23 by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

And the same day, just before 6pm.

10 - ZH105 6pm 9.10 (1) by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

11 - ZH105 6pm 9.10.23 (4) by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

12 - ZH105 6pm 9.10 (2) by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

13 - ZH105 6pm 9.10 (3) by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

11th October - the remains of 107 and 105.

14 - ZH105 ZH107 pile 9am 11.10.23 by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

ZH101 being pushed back on to the scrapping bay

16 - ZH101 9am 11.10.23 (2) by Mike Hiley, on Flickr


101 on the morning of the 13th,

18 - ZH101 13.10.23 AM by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

Then 102 was last - first to arrive, last to leave.
It was in one peice for quite some time, 11 am on the 25th October it was still intact, a few hours later it looked like this.

21 - ZH102 25.10.23 M Hiley by Mike Hiley, on Flickr


The jets all seemend to follow the same process, radars removed, fins removed, various panels removed, then the engines last.
101/102/107 all had bits cut out and saved for re sale, JetEyes has some tags for sale and Timeless aeros have some parts to make into tables etc.

Sad to see them go - as I'm sure alot of you will be seeing these.

Cheers

Mike

Nicely documented Mike, sad to see them go as you say.

Very sad, but also very interesting to see. Thank you for sharing.

A couple more to add - all taken from a perfectly legal point outside of the ATZ.

5th March 2023 - The 4 E3s, 5 Indian Mirages, 6 Finnish Hornets and a visiting Saudi Herc.

DSC_2553-Enhanced-NR by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

Then 15th October - the final peice of 101 on the left with 102 awaiting it's turn.

ZH101 remains and ZH102 15.10.23 (1) by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

ZH101 remains and ZH102 15.10.23 (4) by Mike Hiley, on Flickr

Cheers

Mike

Interesting record, thank you.

What I don't understand is how we bought E-3s after NATO and with more modern CFM56 engines around the same time as the French and ours are all chopped up and in the bin (apart from those sold to Chile) and France & NATO are using theirs whilst we are waiting for about 3 Wedgetails...sometime...hopefully...

Can anyone explain?

The RAFs E3s were last updated around 1998-2000, they were planned to be upgraded but in 2009 the UK decided not to modernize the fleet to the block 40/45 standard that other nations were, so they quickly fell behind the spec of the US and NATO jets.

Believe the Chileans are upgrading their two with full glass cockpits and other bits at some point.

Mike

reaper493 wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 14, 2023 4:26 pm

The RAFs E3s were last updated around 1998-2000, they were planned to be upgraded but in 2009 the UK decided not to modernize the fleet to the block 40/45 standard that other nations were, so they quickly fell behind the spec of the US and NATO jets.

Believe the Chileans are upgrading their two with full glass cockpits and other bits at some point.

Mike

Thanks Mike, but why didn't we do the same, we appear to have swapped a fleet of working jets for 3 that don't exist yet?

Doesn't make sense to me....

Cost cutting.

You can't really argue about cost cutting?
1} We cut them up, get money for scrap!
2} They don't cost anybody any money anymore.
3} We don't replace them or acquire anything else for several years. = costs saved.
4} When we do get a couple of Wedgies, it'll be flown to death as the only one of 3 operational at any time?
5} We cut them up while other early E-7's fly-on, rinse & repeat!

Now those really are sad pictures. Sorry to see this happening to such a beautiful Aircraft. Always such a majestic sight when I saw one flying over. Glad I saw a few carrying out approaches to Edinburgh before this happened. Shame.

Supra wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 15, 2023 2:33 am

You can't really argue about cost cutting?
1} We cut them up, get money for scrap!
2} They don't cost anybody any money anymore.
3} We don't replace them or acquire anything else for several years. = costs saved.
4} When we do get a couple of Wedgies, it'll be flown to death as the only one of 3 operational at any time?
5} We cut them up while other early E-7's fly-on, rinse & repeat!

That's what I was trying to say but you have put it so much more eloquently....

www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_219907. ... 1115_awacs

Seems NATO have agreed to replace its E-3 fleet with six Wedgetails from 2031. Let us hope that some common sense comes about and the RAF cooperate with NATO and form a joint operation plan, at least combining our own aircraft with the NATO maintenance / training structure. Wishful thinking that the UK could host the joint operation ?

Sad to see them go, but there you go...

It is odd though - you'd think there would have been some value in the airframe itself - after all we buy refurbed airframes as RC-135W Rivet Joints! Perhaps the value is so low, it's actually not worth the bother?

E-3Ds are modified 707 airframes, there's little to no use for them, compared to the 717 airframe of the C-135 series.

So the USAF and Now NATO are going for Wedgetails....

The USAF has flown 12 E-3Gs into AMARG this tax year already. NATO having done the same with 3 or 4 which I believe are already stripped hulks

Odds on the French and Saudis will follow and do the same...

2 words synonymous with the UK MoD - cost cutting.

Not like any other NATO nations haven't done that....

As for will we increase Defence spending, well I suspect that would mean more tax rises...

Good diary project Mike
Could never understand why at least the refuelling booms were not 'robbed,' for integration into the three RC135 during their lengthy conversions - forward Boeing fuselage must be very similar if not same.
Instead we have a tanker fleet that cannot support some of our key assets, and have to wait on other Boeing jets to offer refuelling support.
Thanks for posting
3Greens

Thank you for the photo,s, just seems to be such a waste.

Didn't the USN buy one for a E-6 Mercury pilot trainer?