Military AI Works

The Jaguar Force is due to retire from RAF service now on 25th May 2007. This is 6 months earlier than was previously forecasted. This means extra money and space for 11 Sqn's build up to continue in ernest.

Bye bye Jags. Cant say Im sad though really, they are a pain in the arse to deploy, take too much kit.

Nick

Reports elsewhere suggest it's as early as 30th April...

Any confirmation?

30th April is when they stop flying. Its confirmed they will disband on 25th May. They were originally going to put a Typhoon into 6 Sqn colours and have a pilot, thus keeping the active service of the Squadron alive, cos its the longest unbroken service of any sqn. But thats gonna go out the window now.

Nick

I take it that's when they'll cease flying then?

We need to get the jags out before we have to delete them (retro)

Gary

They're on their way matey,
Just the last few bits of the scenery coming now.

Nick

They've started moving Jags out of storage here. I watched one being hauled out on a low-loader this morning, and a two seater being towed across to have it's wing removed this afternoon.

They were great planes in their day, but their day has passed. I hope that there will be plenty preserved in museums and even in flying state. And let's not forget that they aren't retro yet, they're still in service in some numbers, particularly in India.

Ten of them are currently a lot further north having flown to RAF Lossiemouth today!

Savage wrote:Ten of them are currently a lot further north having flown to RAF Lossiemouth today!

The farewell tour?

CelticWarrior wrote:

Savage wrote:Ten of them are currently a lot further north having flown to RAF Lossiemouth today!

The farewell tour?

It looks that way. Have been told they are night stopping to bid farewell to an old base and may well be flying over several bases come tomorrow enroute back to CBY. Must be a wonderful sight, shame I can't see it.

Routine flying will end come the 30th, only non operational flying (storage, flypasts etc) will happen from then, and of course that doesn't make for much!

Savage wrote:only non operational flying (storage, flypasts etc) will happen from then, and of course that doesn't make for much!

I look forward to being put into the hold to wait while they do the inevitable flypasts when they come here to be put into storage. Having said that, the SHARs were a bit of an anticlimax. We all expected some disruption and as it turned out there was no flypast.

Last month I watched as the last Canberras being chopped up and there has been a stream of F3s stumbling in.

Apparently you can buy one already see here.

They are planning a twelve ship at Coningsby on Monday, I'd go but I'm already commited to going to a base a lot further north, in Scotland...

A flypast by 13 Jaguars is taking place overhead RAF Shawbury at 1328Z today.

I wish I'd brought my camera in today.

Edited to add - for probably the first time in their career they were early! By 7 minutes.

luvvvvly sight


http://www.airfighters.com/photo_1381.details.large


shame to see em go though!

Dunc

Was lucky enough to be at Coningsby yesterday...


Sad, but a fitting tribute. At least it's not all over just yet.

CelticWarrior wrote:They've started moving Jags out of storage here. I watched one being hauled out on a low-loader this morning, and a two seater being towed across to have it's wing removed this afternoon.

Hi, at what base is the wing clipping taking place? I hear some are being sent to Bentwaters for scrapping. Anyone confirm that?

John

Disbandment is now set for 31st May.

VulcanDriver wrote:Hi, at what base is the wing clipping taking place? I hear some are being sent to Bentwaters for scrapping. Anyone confirm that?

John

Shawbury is the UK military aircraft storage facility, they don't often break the aircraft up here, but in the case of the Canberras it was. The Jags seem to be getting shipped somewhere, I have no idea where, sorry.

Cary

CelticWarrior wrote:

VulcanDriver wrote:Hi, at what base is the wing clipping taking place? I hear some are being sent to Bentwaters for scrapping. Anyone confirm that?

John

Shawbury is the UK military aircraft storage facility, they don't often break the aircraft up here, but in the case of the Canberras it was. The Jags seem to be getting shipped somewhere, I have no idea where, sorry.

Cary

They'll be flying to RAF Cosford for storage (perhaps for ground instructional use?). The majority will head there on the 31st May, I believe, the day of the 6 Squadron disbandment.