the Harrier will cease to be an operational frontline aircraft

[Andy]

stole this of another forum...
 There are strong rumours that the Harrier will cease to be an operational frontline aircraft with the RAF from December 16th. If you have an opportunity and time get some photos in now before it's too late.

 

Taken at the Mach loop in North Wales.

 

These are just a few recent shots of a superb aircraft :-

[SteveTDCi]

they are really loud when you go under the flight path at wittering :) its a shame they are retiring.

[Andy]

i live not far from leeming air field near catterick garrison so we get them all flying over here

[Janner_Sy]

we may as well have sent an invite to the argies. 

" we welcome you to the falkland islands, please come at will, we wont stop you, our boys are busy in afghan, and the navy has no fast air, merry xmas to you all"

its embarrassing, and they think were a global super power.....

[DaveB@Vagbremtechnic]

This is purely a political decision to vindicate our teaming up with the smelly cheese eating surrender monkeys, Harrier sparesare in many cases in short supply with even some museum pieces having bits taken from them to keep some frames going.

It was this reason and the ongoing costs of maintenance that saw the demise of the harrier, that was until somebody realised a little too late that with the decommisioning of the naval harrier equipped  carriers that a shed load of spares (enough to keep an away from base frontline squadron) were instantly available potentially extending ground based harriers service`life by 6 years.

Didn't fit in with the "big picture" so despite it being given as the reason for grounding them when somebody comes up with a solution for the spares problem they ground them anyway

 

[B3n]

Theyre starting phasing them out in December to be fully gone by March 2011

Some outstanding shots in here http://fox2.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5438 and http://fox2.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2414


Hopefully i will catch one low level when i make my trip up next thursday.

[QD MBE]

RAF had aviators fighting for their futures.

The RN had Ship/Submarine Drivers fighting for their future.

The End!

The future FAA will consist of a few Merlin, and a few Lynx, which are scheduled to replaced by the Cash Cow Wildcat.  Not good. 

With regards to the Falklands, the argument is that we had a fully operational airfield,, that Tornado etc can operate from.

[Hurdy]

So, so sad to see this. I wonder when the first ones will pop up on Ebay?

[Hedge]

Just glad I got to see one fly at Dunsfold. 




Such a shame.

[Eddy30]

Will be genuinely gutted to see them phased out,especially as we've not been convinced they have a good enough reason/replacement. This is one of the big draws to airshows for me. Great photos by the way to both

[JJ]

A crying shame, quite literally...


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11830094

[Eddy30]

I work in rutland at the moment it's great to see them every day take off and their flight path goes straight over us, what a joke it is to get rid of them,I'm lost for words at this government

[Hedge]

It's alright the French will look after us. 

Completely bonkers in my opinion.