Harrier Drawdown - week by week

[DamienB]

Final flypast on the 15th - that's about it. Should have been some partial formation practices this week but snow stops play...

[DamienB]

Just one pic from this week...

[Richard E]

Superb images!

Is there a timetable for the drawdown and any special events planned?

Thanks, Ian

Here are a couple of helpful threads:

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29095

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=29138

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=29217

[jp 74]

I really don't understand your government, draw-down off the Harrier, are they nuts!!!!

[lynothehammer]

I really don't understand your government, draw-down off the Harrier, are they nuts!!!!

It would appear so yes...

[riatfuels]

Cheers Damian & Richard for the heads up .... Ian

[DamienB]

Wittering, 7th December. Driving along the A1 and saw Harriers in the circuit, but an accident up ahead meant I was delayed getting to the airfield and only caught one jet taxiing back in after landing, and one being towed out for engine runs. A practice 8-ship flypast is on the cards for tomorrow.





And the real reason the Harrier is being retired so quickly... rampant corrosion!



Or not. Nice windsock mount though.

[DamienB]

Wittering, 8th December. Practice for the IV(R) Sqn and NSW pilots, though only 7 jets got up not 8. If they follow the same course for the big flypast next week, then anywhere in Wittering village would make a good viewing location as the flypast today was aimed right at the eastern end of the airfield, coming from the north/north west.

























Yes it was pretty dark and VERY cold by this point...

[LN Strike Eagle]

Lovely shots. Had no idea you could get pics like that at Wittering.

[T_J]

Great coverage from Wittering, Damien.



TJ

[DamienB]

Thanks guys.

Apologies for going day by day instead of week by week but it'd be silly not to when I have the opportunity...

Wittering, 9th December. The plan was to move all the airframes to Cottesmore. However, while the manly men at Wittering were out with shovels and snowploughs at the first hint of snowfall, the poor lost souls of Cottesmore were shivering in the mess, deciding which piano would burn the best and thus the runway and taxiways were still unfit to receive visitors today. So the Wittering boys flew anyway, touring the country with - sadly unpublicised - flypasts at various locations. And then they landed back at Wittering. Another try tomorrow apparently...

Anyway on with the pics, starting off in dull light for the first launch early in the morning:



...but it had come over all sunny by the time they came back and pretty much stayed that way:

























And this, ZH659 '107', could well be the last Harrier ever to land at RAF Wittering:

[agdickie]

This thread is a cracking wee catalogue of the last days of the Harrier

"Looking forward" to driving down for the finale on Wednesday

[bigcrow]

Super shots from today Damien.. As Andy states great thread, but very sad.

[DamienB]

Edited to add a few more pics from the 8th. Was a wee bit knackered last night! Not quite so bad today - a few degrees more definitely helps!

[stevieb]

Cracking pictures MrB

[Arno 01]

Great tribute to another loss in the world famous book of UK Military Aircraft, hope the weather plays ball for the final few days.

[IanH]

Terrific on-going review and also thanks for the updates which all help.

Regards, Ian

[LN Strike Eagle]

Lovely shots from today - 112 kicking up spray is a great image, and the light on the two bowing shots is epic.

[kalachnik]

Some nice shots there!

4 Harriers flew over where I work in Essex at about 14:10pm, which was cool. Bit gutted I did not see them though! However i did hear them!

Taking a risk, and driving up tomorrow in the hope we see some activity from Cottesmore.

Fingers crossed!

[DamienB]

Wittering, 10th December. The Home of the Harrier no more... a grey and miserable day as these sorts of days so often are. 16-ship practice flypast cancelled; 8 jets departed Wittering for the last time, bound for Cottesmore.

The first 7 all took off and climbed quickly, distant from my position...





But "Striker 10" very kindly taxied down past the tower just to give those of us on the fence a closer look at his jet.



This one's for the lady in the landrover...



And this one's for Striker 10 - many thanks!



"Striker 10, for the last time, you are cleared for take off"



And that was the end of Harrier operations from RAF Wittering.

Monday will hopefully see a 16-ship practice, then Wednesday the real thing, and that's it for the Harrier.

[stevieb]

Thanks for the Wittering updates, not seen any photos from the fence at Wittering for 20 years and now it's gone!

[KevinJ]

Cheers Damien for all your reports, they've been a great and unique record of a sad event.

[hornet13]

weres the best place to spot at cottesmore for the last flight?

[TIGER TIM]

In all the years I have visited Wittering I have NEVER seen a Harrier use the ski jump

[T_J]

weres the best place to spot at cottesmore for the last flight?

The 22 end of the runway if in use. See following.

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk ... esmore.php

Hover and click over Cottesmore for a wind forecast.

http://www.xcweather.co.uk/

Lovely work again, Damien.

TJ