RAF HARRIER BIDS FAREWELL

[Ykato]

Harrier Bids Farewell
15 December 2010

Tributes were paid to the joint force of Royal Navy and RAF Harrier aircraft today as a spectacular flypast across eastern England marked the aircraft's retirement after 41 years of service.

A formation of 16 Harriers took to the skies over Lincolnshire, flying over seven RAF bases, Lincoln Cathedral and the towns of Stamford and Oakham.

Brought into service in 1969 and based at RAF Wittering, this British aircraft was designed to take off and land both vertically and on a short runway.

Well known for its role in the Falklands War, the Harrier went on to serve in many other conflicts including in Bosnia and Iraq in the 1990s.

The RAF and Royal Navy Harrier squadrons joined forces in 2000 to form Joint Force Harrier, based at RAF Cottesmore. These combined Harrier squadrons went on to serve in Sierra Leone, the second Gulf War and most recently Afghanistan.

Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group, Air Vice-Marshal Greg Bagwell, said:

"The Harrier is a true icon and stands testament to the innovation and excellence of British design and engineering, and the skill and courage of our airmen.

"It has had a truly distinguished service with both the RAF and the Royal Navy, from the South Atlantic to the skies over Afghanistan. It now takes its place in history as one of aviation's greats."

Officer Commanding 800 Naval Air Squadron, Commander Dave Lindsay, said:

"The Harrier leaves UK service after an illustrious career that has seen it contribute to every major conflict in the last 30 years. It has been an enormous personal privilege and honour to have been involved with this wonderful aircraft for nearly 20 years, at sea and over land, at peace and in conflict."

"I will forever be immensely proud to be able to say I have been a Royal Navy Harrier Squadron Commander."

Last year the aircraft celebrated its 40th anniversary as the Harrier squadrons flew home after five years in Afghanistan.

Joint Force Harrier Commander, Group Captain Gary Waterfall, said:

"As the last Harrier Force Commander, it has been a real honour to ensure that the Harrier has been retired from service with all of the respect and dignity deserved.

"Today has been a tribute to everybody involved with the Harrier family."

www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=4F95BCA0-5056-A318-A8C68AE12CC22FEC

Photo Gallery
www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=4F95BCA0-5056-A318-A8C68AE12CC22FEC

[Ykato]

BBC News UK Harriers Last Flight

Video By a Wonkabar

Harrier Force Farewell Event. Special Paint Scheme Harriers & Pilot Guard Of Honour

[oldnavy]

It is indeed a very sad time for the RN Fleet Air Arm, because now they have nothing. Having said that, there were several Kiwis in the RN/RAF Harrier force. Has anybody thought to suggest the RNZAF takes on 2 dozen Harriers as a gift? They're all quite new...and much more capable than the RNZAF's current fast jet fleet.

[strikemaster]

Another big day in aviation history. Farewell to the kids of the Kestrel. Never realised they had been running so long.

[shane]

HMS Illustrious will join them in 2014
www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/The-end-of-the-line.6662531.jp

[oldnavy]

I only did 1 short stint on Illustrious, but seeing the last one go will certainly bring a tear to my eye.

[obiwan27]

Dec 17, 2010 10:42:25 GMT 12 oldnavy said:

Having said that, there were several Kiwis in the RN/RAF Harrier force. Has anybody thought to suggest the RNZAF takes on 2 dozen Harriers as a gift? They're all quite new...and much more capable than the RNZAF's current fast jet fleet.

An excellent suggestion and if the NZ government's books weren't in the red so much it could have been a winner.

[Dave Homewood]

We'll take some recently retired F-111's too please.

[strikemaster]

And get our pilots back with them. :-)

[philip]

Evidently they have done a fly-past of Downing Street

[pjw4118]

Add a tanker or two to the wish list as the Harriers range might be a bit tight.

[nige]

Te he he, Philip, that's a bit of a "cheeky" formation!

Real or PhotoShop? :-)

[flyjoe180]

Very norty

[oggie2620]

Want to buy a Harrier?
RAF News - Harrier fans spark eBay frenzy as iconic aircraft retires from the RAF
Harrier fans spark eBay frenzy as iconic aircraft retires from the RAF

IF you ever wanted to own a piece of RAF history and have a spare £70,000 – now is the time. Former RAF ‘rigger’ Christopher Wilson has just spent the past 12 months working on Harrier XW269 to restore the aircraft back to its former glory and it is now up for sale on eBay.

As the RAF said an emotional farewell to the Harrier at Wittering this month with the last squadrons of Joint Force Harrier, fans of the iconic aircraft swamped the internet auction site in the hope of snapping it up. Billed as the ultimate ‘business promotional tool, garden feature, gate guardian or museum aircraft’ on its eBay sales page, XW269 was last flown in 1997 after 26 years of service.

XW269 is a Harrier T2 variant, with two seats, was used for pilot training and evaluation but could be combat capable and carry the same weapons as carried on other Harrier GR1 or GR3s. The aircraft has undergone an extensive restoration programme to complete external static display standard. It has been fully repainted and completed to T2 specification as it entered service with IV (R) Sqn in 1971.

Mr Wilson, 33, joined the RAF in 1996, trained as an Air Frame Fitter and left after eight years service in 2004. He later set up Jet Art Aviation Ltd in Bradford which specialises in restoring old aircraft.

XW269 is the seventh Harrier the company has restored, but the first RAF Harrier. The previous six were Naval Sea Harriers.

Mr Wilson said: “I tried a couple of businesses after leaving the RAF and then set Up Jet Art Aviation. “I saw people were interested in aviation at air shows, but I never thought I would be earning a living this way. We sell the pieces to museums or private individuals.

“We bought the frame of XW269 as scrap and took delivery in 2009. We have spent 1000 man-hours restoring it and wanted the aircraft to look as if it had just landed.
“The T2 is an early unit. I think it is a fitting tribute to the Harrier Force that has just been retired.”

The company’s next project will be to restore a Tornado GR1.
XW269 flew with IV (R), No 1 (F) and 3 Sqns, and the Strike Attack Operational Evaluation Unit (SAOEU) being used for weapons trials and testing under tactical conditions.

The aircraft was upgraded to T4 standard and was finally used for ‘Night Bird’ AV8/GR5 Harrier trials with forward-looking infrared.
Harrier fans spark eBay frenzy as iconic aircraft retires from the RAF

07 February 2011

IF you ever wanted to own a piece of RAF history and have a spare £70,000 – now is the time.

Former RAF ‘rigger’ Christopher Wilson has just spent the past 12 months working on Harrier XW269 to restore the aircraft back to its former glory and it is now up for sale on eBay.

As the RAF said an emotional farewell to the Harrier at Wittering this month with the last squadrons of Joint Force Harrier, fans of the iconic aircraft swamped the internet auction site in the hope of snapping it up.
Billed as the ultimate ‘business promotional tool, garden feature, gate guardian or museum aircraft’ on its eBay sales page, XW269 was last flown in 1997 after 26 years of service.

XW269 is a Harrier T2 variant, with two seats, was used for pilot training and evaluation but could be combat capable and carry the same weapons as carried on other Harrier GR1 or GR3s.

The aircraft has undergone an extensive restoration programme to complete external static display standard.

It has been fully repainted and completed to T2 specification as it entered service with IV (R) Sqn in 1971.

Mr Wilson, 33, joined the RAF in 1996, trained as an Air Frame Fitter and left after eight years service in 2004.

He later set up Jet Art Aviation Ltd in Bradford which specialises in restoring old aircraft.

XW269 is the seventh Harrier the company has restored, but the first RAF Harrier. The previous six were Naval Sea Harriers.

Mr Wilson said: “I tried a couple of businesses after leaving the RAF and then set Up Jet Art Aviation.

“I saw people were interested in aviation at air shows, but I never thought I would be earning a living this way. We sell the pieces to museums or private individuals.

“We bought the frame of XW269 as scrap and took delivery in 2009. We have spent 1000 man-hours restoring it and wanted the aircraft to look as if it had just landed.

“The T2 is an early unit. I think it is a fitting tribute to the Harrier Force that has just been retired.”

The company’s next project will be to restore a Tornado GR1.
XW269 flew with IV (R), No 1 (F) and 3 Sqns, and the Strike Attack Operational Evaluation Unit (SAOEU) being used for weapons trials and testing under tactical conditions.

The aircraft was upgraded to T4 standard and was finally used for ‘Night Bird’ AV8/GR5 Harrier trials with forward-looking infrared.