Yeovilton-Home of the Sea Harrier **update August 2014**

[lmgaylard]

jag636; Give the 'old girl' a hug from me the next time you see her......

[lmgaylard]

Doodlebug; I hope that before you shed a tear that you will have had a laugh and smile, that is my intention, hopfully. Rob Schwab 'surffing' ontop a van at Fairford will make you smile......
More than likely you will be mad with the ending.........mmmm...

[lmgaylard]

Just as an update;

I have delayed the book by 3 Months as I am still waiting for a few articles to arrive from some of the pilots and ground crew.
I have recently received some excellent photos from Chris Farara (ex Hawker at Dunsfold) including some of the P1127 crash at Yeovilton back in the 60s.

Here is a list of some of the areas I will be covering along with the normal running chapters;

Sea Harrier People- A profile of some of the pilots and ground crew.
Sea Harrier on Pebble Mill- Sharkey Ward writes about the display on the TV show.
Sea Harrier on Top Gear- Nick Arkle explains the preperation and performance against 'The Stig'.
SHARSU-Sea Harrier Support Unit- Brian Johnstone MBE explains the role of this little known unit.
The Alraigo Kid- With help from 'Soapy' Watson it gives full details of how to land on a Container Ship.....
How to marshall a SHAR- Ben Moorcroft explains the routine of marshalling out and in a Sea Harrier.
Sea Harrier Pre-Flight- Glen Pinnock goes through the ground crews pre-flight checks of a SHAR.
VIFF- Main article is written by Nick Arkle with input from all the other pilots. Explains what VIFF is and how it could be used and how it was taught.
SkyHook- With expert input from Chris Farara, a look at the SkyHook proposal and other ideas.

So these are a few of the extra topics that will be in my book.
I will let you all know nearer the time of publication....

SkyHook-@Chris Farara

Skyhook artists impression by lewis gaylard, on Flickr

899NAS crew photo@ Andy Lidster

899NAS by lewis gaylard, on Flickr


Thank you all for the previous comments.......

[urkles]

I recognise my old shipper Mr Mahoney at the back there!

[lmgaylard]

Do you know the pilots name Urkles?

[urkles]

Not offhand mate, looks about 15 -17 years before I joined! You posted the pic to your other contacts?

[andyxh558]

Its still unbelievable that they were taken out of service so early and its one plane i miss very much. I was lucky to be in Malta on the Sea harriers last voyage on ship before they were retired. just seeing Lusty coming though the entrance of Grand Harbour with i think 5 Sea Harriers on the deck was something unforgettable.



I am looking forward to the book too keep up the great work.

[lmgaylard]

Its still unbelievable that they were taken out of service so early and its one plane i miss very much. I was lucky to be in Malta on the Sea harriers last voyage on ship before they were retired. just seeing Lusty coming though the entrance of Grand Harbour with i think 5 Sea Harriers on the deck was something unforgettable.



I am looking forward to the book too keep up the great work.

Sorry Andy, I've only just seen this photo.
Thanks for posting, very nice photos.....a piece of history......

[jg43]

Love this thread, great photo's. Thanks for sharing!

[Maurits37]

Great set of shots!

[Jason Grant]

Superb post,I love the history with the images. Best of luck with the book.

Cheers.

[lmgaylard]

Hi Guys....

Thank you all for your kind comments, as a little update;

Well, the book is now 80% written with Artwork 75% done and about 300 photos so far shorted.
I have been a bit sidetracked by writing some articles for AF Monthly and Jets but hey, got to pay the bills.
Also had 3 more SHAR pilots sign up for the book, so to speak, and another 6 wanting to 'do something'..........Never thought I would be in this position but I think I now have to start saying no to more contributors or my book will take another 18 months to finish!! What do you think, say no or say yes????

As a little taster I thought I would post a little bit of the words from the book so you can get a feel for it.....
The following short extract is from Flt Lt Ian Mortimer talking about returning from RAF St.Mawgan to Yeovilton after an emergency divert having been told by 'Sharkey' Ward not to do any ''Fancy V/STOL'';
''Friday morning was gorgeous. Cold for August but the sky was blue and there was a gentle breeze to lean into whilst hovering. What could I do? It was perfect VSTOL conditions. I got back to Yeovilton and went into the full VSTOL repertoire! Thousands of people turned out of their offices to watch. A little voice somewhere kept saying, “No fancy VSTOL” but I wasn't listening, I was having such a good time. When I climbed out of the jet the AEO, LT Cdr Peter Palmer, approached and he wasn't smiling. “I want a word with you”, said the AEO, but before I could panic he burst into a big smile and said, “thank you Morts, the boys really needed a morale boost and that was just great”. Wow, not only was I not in the guano, I was being thanked, but the elation was short lived. When I got into the line office I was told the Boss wanted to see me, immediately! Four days with the Navy and already I'd disobeyed a direct order, my career was about to end. “What happened Morts”, said a very stern faced Sharkey? I told him what I was sure he already knew after which he just said, “ok, that'll be all”. As I opened the door to leave Sharkey called me back and with just a hint of a smile said, “Morts you're going to be the display pilot, get a sequence together and let me know when it's ready”.

Hope this a decent little taster for you.....
Obviously this is copyrighted.

1)Ian Mortimer displaying at Yeovilton 1981

ZA175 (004) Back-Up RVL by lewis gaylard, on Flickr

2) Lt Cdr David Baddams about to launch with a full compliment of 'Live' AMRAAM Missiles. This was the only time that a SHAR launced with this load-out and, despite what rumours were spread by the 'Light Blue', there was no problem with 'bring-back' ability due to high ambient temperatures.

baddams_amraam_2 by lewis gaylard, on Flickr

Thanks gents

[lmgaylard]

Thanks jag636 for the heads-up.......
Will try, at some stage, to go see them......

[lmgaylard]

Hello everyone.

The on-going saga that is my SHAR book.
I thought I would give an update as a lot of people have been asking about the books progress.

Well, the book is now virtually complete, word wise. I just have to complete the 'Falklands' chapter and the final chapter. Not quite sure how controversal I want, or need, to make the final chapter. I'm not really sure if I need to be controversal at all, it might take something away from the purpose of the book. Really not sure.

Good news is that I've almost agreed a contract with a new publisher, just one or two points to iron out. Hope to get it sorted and signed in the next couple of weeks.

I had been toying with the idea of having a 'free' DVD with the book as I have been given, over the last few years, some really excellent and rare SHAR footage. But it has been such a headache gaining the appropriate permissions that it has been put on hold, for now.

I will let you all know more nearer the time of the inital print run and publication.
Thank you all for your interest. If any of you have any questions or comment or ideas, please feel free to let me know.

Here is a couple of interesting photos;

1) Sea Harrier FRS1, XZ499, of 800NAS formates with a US Navy Kfir after an ACM sortie in 1985. Copyright @ Brian Johnstone.
XZ499-126 800NAS c1985 with USN Kfir by lmgaylard, on Flickr

2) Twos Sea Harrier FRS1 of 801 Nas and a US Navy F-14 Tomcat 'shadow' a Russian 'Bear' in the North Atlantic early in 1982. Copyright @ Greg Kinnear
801 NAS 1981-86 018 by lmgaylard, on Flickr

Thank you for looking.

[stevep22]

I assume signed copies will be available...........?

[Frank the Dog]

Superb stuff Lewis, you are guaranteed a sale from this part of Devon

[lmgaylard]

I assume signed copies will be available...........?

You don't want me to sign it, it will devalue the book.....