Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Spray and pray...
With the flypast canned due to poor visibility and cloudbase over most of the route, sadly we had to be happy with four ship run and breaks over the station. Didn't catch them all, hey ho.
And landing shots were even trickier, this is a crop through a narrow window of opportunity!
This really is "The final bow"
The last landing itself was sadly out of sight on one of the northern hover pads - I hope the RAF had a photographer out there. The various jets made their way back to the ramp...
...and shut down simultaneously, putting an end to the Harrier in UK service. Now the rest of the world can only marvel at a supposedly maritime nation that cannot afford to operate aircraft carriers or the aircraft to go on them.
Another Hawker/Dunsfold product paid the final salute, with 3 of the Red Arrows flying overhead as the crews walked to meet their families.
Air and ground crews all mixed together, duty carried out and beers well earned.
The four 'specials' were parked in a crescent, and needed impeccable timing to arrive together - hence being the only jets not to travel the full length of the runway and give the crowd at the 22 end a look.
The Boss and His Jet.
Next retirement... well, I vote, politicians. We seem to have squadrons and squadrons of the buggers and they're all bloody useless. I'm sure their job could be done cheaper by UAVs.
Anyway, thanks to those who helped out today - they know who they are! And thanks to the crews who tried so hard and did so much to show off their aircraft to us over the last few weeks.
With the flypast canned due to poor visibility and cloudbase over most of the route, sadly we had to be happy with four ship run and breaks over the station. Didn't catch them all, hey ho.
And landing shots were even trickier, this is a crop through a narrow window of opportunity!
This really is "The final bow"
The last landing itself was sadly out of sight on one of the northern hover pads - I hope the RAF had a photographer out there. The various jets made their way back to the ramp...
...and shut down simultaneously, putting an end to the Harrier in UK service. Now the rest of the world can only marvel at a supposedly maritime nation that cannot afford to operate aircraft carriers or the aircraft to go on them.
Another Hawker/Dunsfold product paid the final salute, with 3 of the Red Arrows flying overhead as the crews walked to meet their families.
Air and ground crews all mixed together, duty carried out and beers well earned.
The four 'specials' were parked in a crescent, and needed impeccable timing to arrive together - hence being the only jets not to travel the full length of the runway and give the crowd at the 22 end a look.
The Boss and His Jet.
Next retirement... well, I vote, politicians. We seem to have squadrons and squadrons of the buggers and they're all bloody useless. I'm sure their job could be done cheaper by UAVs.
Anyway, thanks to those who helped out today - they know who they are! And thanks to the crews who tried so hard and did so much to show off their aircraft to us over the last few weeks.
Last edited by DamienB on Wed 15 Dec 2010, 8:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
DanO1978 wrote:Not bothering to taxi the "specials" past the taxpayers who'd made the journey specially to see them is the only gripe I'd have with the day's organisation, given the conditions.
Not bothering ????
I think you know why Dan, not like you to make a post like this.
HTAFC
- RichPittman
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Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Thanks for sharing Damien Today and all the final Months, will email RE pm when home.
Cheers Rich
Cheers Rich
Always remember "If you cannot turn tight...you cannot fight!"
- RickIngham
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Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Well documented Damien - bet your chuffed to bits with your collection.
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Not really Rick. Just saddened that I had to do 4 years worth of Harrier shooting in two months. That's my two local military airfields gone too.
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Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Well I would be...you have the best record of the RAF Harrier's last couple of months than anyone else... just a shame about the circumstances.
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Great set of shots nice record of a sad ocassion
Canon 7Dmk2
Canon 7D
Sigma 18-200
Sigma 10-20
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Icom ICR-2 Scanner
PSN: timuss
Canon 7D
Sigma 18-200
Sigma 10-20
Canon 100-400 L IS II
Icom ICR-2 Scanner
PSN: timuss
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Great shots from someone who was gutted not to be there
Harrier book next?
Harrier book next?
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Shsssshh
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Crappy circumstances indeed, but a superb record of the last few weeks nonetheless Your shots have been hugely appreciated by those of us who couldn't make it up there over the last couple of weeks, many thanks for taking the time to share them
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Nice selection
Overheard on someones Scanner the ATC asking about all the Harriers shutting down (awaiting the arrival of the Reds). The reply came "I counted them all out and I counted them all back."
Said it all really.
Overheard on someones Scanner the ATC asking about all the Harriers shutting down (awaiting the arrival of the Reds). The reply came "I counted them all out and I counted them all back."
Said it all really.
- DaveGriff
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Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Thanks DB - very evocative. Can't help but shed a tear at the demise of one of the greatest British designs ever. And we're keeping Illustrious until 2014 - presumably using it as a platform to lob cricket balls at the enemy. What a complete joke we really are - a maritime nation defended with a bucket and spade and maybe the odd candy floss.
- chrisward123
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Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Fantastic Pictures, gutted I couldn't make it down.
R.I.P Harrier
R.I.P Harrier
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- lynothehammer
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Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Thank you very much for sharing your photos over the last few weeks, it was just too far for me to travel to see them so your photos have made up for that... Very sad day indeed...
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Fantastic photos of such a sad occasion. Many thanks for sharing.
Shame they couldn't organise a photocall at Cottesmore with all the harriers lined up. Think of the money that could be raised for Help for Heroes/RAF Benevolent Fund etc.
Shame they couldn't organise a photocall at Cottesmore with all the harriers lined up. Think of the money that could be raised for Help for Heroes/RAF Benevolent Fund etc.
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
indeedy, great photos. The harrier will be missed
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Great work Damien, thanks for braving the wet cold and bringing these photos to us all.
Did you get any of the four ship flypast last week? A buddy was in the formation and would love to see any such shots.
Regards, Jorgo
Did you get any of the four ship flypast last week? A buddy was in the formation and would love to see any such shots.
Regards, Jorgo
www.actionairimages.com
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Sorry, no - mid lens change...
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Very nice thread Damien, you captured the occasion perfectly, I,ve heard JFH provided 32 Serviceable Harriers for the day, a primary plus a spare for each of the 16 what an effort. Not a bad effort for an unwanted aircraft.
There,s only 2 states of flying, Boredom & Terror
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Cracking images Damien. Nice to meet you at Cott, good to put a face to a name.
Such a sad day though...
Such a sad day though...
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Great thread DB, thanks for taking the time to put it together. Thanks also for your company on the Fri and Mon.