Harriers Final goodbye happenings (updated)

[Michael Leek]

The SDSR states that the Harrier - and Tornado F3s - will go at the end of March 2011. Anyone know exactly what this means the Harrier's last flights were today?

[liamkillington]

I agree, and fair play to the RAF for taking the bother to come out and give us a comprehensive briefing and for taxying past us at the 22 end, they didn't need to do that.

I'm in total agreeance with you on that point, this event was arranged for the crews, families and others who have/or have had a connection with the harrier (those inside the fence). It was very gratious of the RAF to give us a full briefing, provide us with the facility for food/tea/coffee and taxi the aircraft past us at the 22 end.

I left my house this morning at 5am and spent the majority of the day in the cold but I feel happy I got to see the harrier fly for the last time as many people out there didn't. I was disappointed not to see the specials taxi but hey, life doesn't always go your way!

An iconic aircraft gone, but never forgotten!

[jonf45]

The SDSR states that the Harrier - and Tornado F3s - will go at the end of March 2011. Anyone know exactly what this means the Harrier's last flights were today?

Need to be kept airworthy for their new owners......

[Tronk 11]

Hi Guys,
I was at Wittering today & listened as the crews tried to get down below the weather, but you could hear the disapointment in the voices as they knew they couldn't. It would be nice to see the RAF keep one airworthy with a historical flight, I'm not sure if many RAF jets could compete with the service record of the Harrier. Pity they can't afford to keep it flying, although the government call it a Strategic defence review. I (along with a lot more people here) are not that stupid.
I got my last look at them a few weeks ago, & will always remember that day. Take note everyone. Don't assume they'll be around as they often won't be. Nimrod, Harrier, then ? Get out, & enjoy them while you can.

[Dan D'Air]

Hi Guys,
Don't assume they'll be around as they often won't be. Nimrod, Harrier, then ? Get out, & enjoy them while you can.

Sentinel........

[colt99]

Hi Guys,
Don't assume they'll be around as they often won't be. Nimrod, Harrier, then ? Get out, & enjoy them while you can.

Sentinel........

Dominie tomorrow and friday

[Tronk 11]

Unfortunatly they are starting to stack up. Dominie, Senitinal, Shadow, Tornado? Sea King? Gazelle? Jetstream (RN) & thats without thinking too much. I don't want to think as they'll be more.

[cottesmore09]

My take on a frustrating day.

After starting the day heading for Cottesmore i decided to head the RAF advice and head for another RAF base, wanted to do Cranwell so i could do the Dominies as well (didnt see any) then headed to Waddo. Stood outside in the freezing cold for 2 hours waiting only to read the dreaded news...All aircraft to land at Cotts. The weather in Linconshire was fine between 11-3 with a cloud base of 3000-5000ft broken cloud and good visibility. Hearing the news that they cancelled was like a bolt through the heart, never again to see a Harrier fly.

We can go on for ages about why the RAF couldnt send 1 or 4 Harriers up to the thousands who were waiting, but at the end of the day safety rules.

Gutted, RIP Harrier and its place in British History

Bryan

Hi mate, Cottesmore low cloud through out the day, i think they went by the weather at home, could hardly see the formation at all and they only had a small cloud lift to get back throuh in 4 ships and land, the last set were nearly in the clouds.

[cottesmore09]

From my garden on the 13th,


Camo harrier edited by luke sismore, on Flickr

More found here: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=23923" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

15th from a differnt veiw!, more to come under Photo thread


IMG_0150 by luke sismore, on Flickr

IMG_0174 by luke sismore, on Flickr

Thanks, Cott09

[Blackcat1]

8 hour round trip for us, left a sunny South Wales, weather start to turn just after Brum, mist came down and the rain, i was thinking oh oh fudge they are going to cancel. Was told when we got there , it was still to go ahead, so chuffed. Was a great shame they couldnt do the flypast thanks to the god awful British weather, but was very happy and sad at the same time to see my fav aircraft after the Jaguar for the last time. Like many others both my Uncle and i had a tear in our eyes as that unique noise that only a Harrier's Pegasus engine makes winding down for the last time. It was a shame the best looking colour jets exited the runway early for us at the 22 end, but just seeing the ones taxi past i was very greatful. I cannot believe this Great British Icon has been retired early after having not long been upgraded, it's a crying shame that i will never see Harriers fly at low level in the valleys anymore, we are just extremely glad we made the effort to visit Cottsmore one last time.

I wish all the Harrier flight crews and ground crews and everyone on Cottesmore best wishes for the future.

Goodbye Harrier you will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.

[robbo]

well said Gareth,
good to see you again, allbiet on such a sad day for everyone concerned and what a very sad event it was

robbo

[tim_raper]

you must of run out of fingers, I'm sure I counted 17 departures. 1 weather ship plus eight pairs.

[tonkatom]

My thanks to the harrier and all the personnel who worked with it.the personnel have lost a best friend and so have i.realy touchin at the end of the ceremony,lookin at cottesmore runway and thinkin of how deserted,run down it wil look soon.a magical place with the best atmosphere around the place as a whole ive ever been too.wil miss you cottesmore:-(

[binbrook87]

A very sad day indeed and a great shame the weather intervened to prevent the 16 ship flypast, but thanks must go to all the RAF guys and gals and all the support staff for making any kind of display at all possible and for those crews that taxied past the '22' end - thanks it was well appreciated Sad to see them go and well worth the 6 hours standing in the mud & rain. I can now look back and say 'I was there'. Here's wishing everyone at Cottesmore all the very best whatever the future holds.

[cottesmore09]

What a superb,but ultimately sad day,
9and a half hour round trip for my Dad and I from Barrow in Cumbria,
So glad we came down,
From my early years in the 70's I can still remember being enthralled when told about The Harrier 'Jump'Jet,this amazing machine that doesn't need a runway to take off,or indeed land,
Watching them on the BBC coverage of the Falklands war in the 80's,Brian Hanraghan's famous 'counted them all out and I counted them all back in again'
A feeling of pride that OUR own British aircraft had done so much in that conflict,
Not forgetting it's vital role Close Air Support in Afghanistan and Iraq,
Then over the years,for me, the Harrier was always the star of the airshows that we visited,the aircraft in mid flypast that seemed to stand on it's nose and come to a halt IN THE AIR !!! and just sit there,then the pivot followed by the bow,superb,just superb,
In the last year I've taken up low level photography as a great number of you folks on here have,I only caught one Harrier through Dunmail,and it was a snapshot unfortunately as he startled me,I did hoever get the said aircraft yesterday at Cotts,(45A)

Thank you to all the Pilots,Ground crews and all the RAF personnel that have over the years operated this magnificent machine,
In particular a big thank you to all the team at Cottismore for making yesterday so special,I wish you all the very best for the future,

Farewell Harrier,we are going to miss you,but we will never forget you

And finally to those weilding the budget books......

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO OUR COUNTRY !!!!WE ARE GOING BACKWARDS, I HAVE NEVER EVER FELT SO CONNED IN MY LIFE FOR VOTING FOR SOMEONE !!!

Sorry that's been building for a while now,
Kindest regards
Mark

Well said

[cottesmore09]

Found this interesting aritical

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/news/151/ ... itain.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think i would rather donate to keep the Harrier flying now than the Vulcan, just something differant and maybe alittle cheaper to run per year than the Vulcan?

Yourselfs?

[Richard B]

Would cost to much with that outfit in charge,
would guess they are plenty of zero houred engines and plenty of spares, you would need to buy all of this and then a few airframes.

Could be a lot easier and cheaper to operate then the Vulcan.