Harrier Drawdown - week by week

[RichPittman]

Lovely selection Damien

[lozza]

Have really enjoyed these, thankyou, ironic that ZD401 was the last one i photographed low level on the 15th of last month

lozza

[hornet13]

thanks for the heads up tj

[DamienB]

Cottesmore, 13th December... hundreds of people braving the fog and rain in the hope that something, anything would fly... and...



Oh yes



All the special tails up plus the retro jet for a photo shoot - and as they departed the sunshine arrived too, leading up to a glorious sunset.















Still mucho confusion as to whether the 16-ship flypast needs to be practiced tomorrow or not...

[F-22 Raptor A]

Cottesmore, 13th December...



Oh yes

Oh yes indeed!

Shame they couldnt take it low level!

But what a jet, what a scheme and what a nice photo. Shiny!

[AnglianAV8R]

That paint job is stunning, clearly a labour of love.

[IanH]

Damien,

Just read some of the stuff on another site and wanted to say 'keep posting' and rise above it. Your updates have been a help and 99% of people appreciate them so ignore the 1%. Posted on here coz the other site won`t let me for some reason.

Cheers, Ian

[LN Strike Eagle]

Last two shots are splendid Mr B, and you managed the light with the taxiing camo bird very nicely.

[DamienB]

Thanks guys. Ian - sorry, end of tether... someone else can take the flak from the doubters and numpties.

[Tonka2009]

Well as I said on another forum, keep it polite no need for being rude. Damien does help a great deal, nothing was said about that but when people are confused and most of the stuff is hearsay then you should help them not talk down at them, unless you have a crystal ball keep it nice.
Very nice photos retro jet looks good, Nice job

[DamienB]

See what I mean...

[Tonka2009]

see what exactly?

Marc

[IanH]

Thanks guys. Ian - sorry, end of tether... someone else can take the flak from the doubters and numpties.

Can`t say I blame you Damien. Posts have been great. Can`t understand why some seem to want it presented on a plate. Life is too short.

Enjoy the remainder of the show everyone.

Cheers, Ian

[Russ]

Camo bird and sunsets - superb Damien.

[TomG]

Superb coverage Damien and some very nice shots indeed thank you; the shot of the three special tails is a beauty.

Cheers, Tom

[rob-the-viking]

Some great pics there Damien, cracking stuff. I look forward to the final chapter.

[chally2]

Awesome thread mate, this retirement must be the most comprehensively covered of all the sad retirements in our time, and doesn't it deserve it
Love looking at all the pics posted and that cammo is just something else, shame about the circumstances, i'm just glad i caught the last Harrier CAS on SPTA a while back...

[DamienB]

Thanks guys.

Cottesmore, 14th December.

A thoroughly miserable day today. Crap weather so crap photos, but did at least get a quick look round a very full ramp in the morning.



It's even got new intake blanks





Sadly when it came time for take-off, the weather closed in and they were using 04 which as previously posted is limited for photographic opportunities.



The cloud meant we never actually got to see the formation at Cottesmore itself, so this was the only 'action' in the area...



And then it was time for the formation elements to recover, mostly as pairs.



"It's behind you" ...







Getting very dark while a single jet on air test was playing about - thanks for the hover!



Sad to walk out of that field knowing it's almost certainly the last time I'll ever do that. Reminded me of the same dejected muddy walk out of the field at the end of Coltishall's runway a few years ago.

[agdickie]

Good work on the fliers, horrible conditions - don't know how you got anything out of it!

[nigelblake]

Aah but we did get to wear a Harrier as a hat, it kept my ears nice and warm!
I like that wide shot up the wing of ZG506!

[Stu]

Thanks for posting them all up Damien can remember the walk back from Colt that Monday afternoon not many of us there 12 I guess if that....walked back with Catherine to from the last fly past

[MarkL]

Awesome thread Mr D.

The a/c in your last shot I watched do 3 circuits before the final landing. As it was my last ever flying Harrier would someone be kind enough to reveal its ID. I watched it from South Witham so was unable to identify it. I believe its call sign was Yankee 22, again, confirmation would be appreciated.

I can't really believe its over.

My favorite a/c and airfield gone.

To Damien and all you guys who have taken the time to attend and produce some awesome pictures, I thank you for giving me something to look back at for years to come.

A sad day.

[wv383]

That camo scheme is a real beauty. Let's hope someone preserves it and it doesn't end up chopped or hidden away somewhere!

[DamienB]

Well, the end has come. Final bow and all that. The short-sighted decision to retire the UK's only carrier capable fast jet is one that, I hope, does not come back to bite us on our collective arses.

Cottesmore, 15th December. A miserable day in all respects, with the weather eventually putting paid to the 16 ship flypast. The ramp had never looked busier...





The weather checker went up first...





But he'd have needed to find heavy showers of 3-mile-wide alien spacecraft to stop the rest following him up there...









For once, RAF photographers were evident in some numbers, though a limited number of press were permitted on the station while the public were kept firmly outside the fence (a very poor decision if you ask me).

[DanO1978]

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.