FighterControl

found this video on u-tube
like the shot of the jag taking off on grass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqNVIr92zDY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

lovely bit of film, wish we still had one flying over here for the airshows.

Rob

I arrived at RAF Coltishall in 1977 and was told the previous year sorties had been flown from grass at Swanton Morley.
The Jags could take it no problem, but many of the pilots complained it was very uncomfortable.

In Harriers going over steel plating laid on grass, bumping up & down was only noticeable at low speed taxying.

I know the BAE146 can operate even from gravel strips, but has that type been operated off grass runways? If so anyone on here know the handling characteristics?

Went to Swanton Morley in the early 80s and got to see a Jag and Harrier land on the Grass strip at Swanton Morely.

Would be handy for a gliding club, wouldn't it?

Nice piece of film

Seem to remember the Jag operating off the grass at Boscombe, and didnt the Jag operate of the grass at one of the Farnborough shows?

Did the Jags ever use the grass at Coltishall? I feel like I have an obscure childhood memory of it, but it may well be false!

Thunderbolt II wrote:Did the Jags ever use the grass at Coltishall? I feel like I have an obscure childhood memory of it, but it may well be false!

I was told they used Swanton as the Jags needed a fairly long length of not too rough field for take offs. Thus they used Swanton and not Colt for that exercise as Colt's grass strip (as such) was not long enough..

The grass take off sequence is Farnborough - you can see the famous black sheds in the background. If memory serves the 1976 display featured a T2 off the grass (maybe the video) and '78 and/or '80 show a loaned 2Sqn GR1.