Big cats on the prowl - pic heavy!

[Ian G]

Well, it's only taken me 18 months to finally get round to editing these images from August 2016! I was lucky enough to spend a morning at RAF Cosford to view Jaguars running under their own power for the very last time. The airframes continue to be used as instructional platforms but will no longer run, thus ending another chapter in the life of the Jaguar in RAF service.

We started off photographing a few static airframes before three GR3s taxied out onto the apron and completed several circuits, allowing the small crowd to get shots from every achievable angle. While they parked up adjacent to the static aircraft, some T4s repeated the same procedure before parking up. The crowd were then invited to get up close and personal and I managed to take a seat in the desert pink painted GR3 - I felt like I was 9 again but more like 59 trying to get out! We were then treated to another ground display with all aircraft on the apron before the aircraft were given a water salute upon returning to their hangars.

The crew at Cosford must be applauded for providing a perfect event with access as close as you would want it with plenty of time and so many photographic opportunities. The only issue I had was deciding where to go and in YouTube footage you can see many spectators - including me - dashing from one side to the other, there was so much to photograph! It was great of the station and RAF to celebrate the Jaguar and as it's one of my favourite aircraft, I make no apologies for the number of images! There are plenty more on Flickr too here.

Thanks for looking!

1

Sepecat Jaguar GR.3 XZ117 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

2

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

3

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

4

Sepecat Jaguar GR.3 XX725 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

5

Sepecat Jaguar GR.3 XX725 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

6

Taxi by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

7

The dirty end by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

8

Sepecat Jaguar GR.3 XX725 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

9

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

10

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

11

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

12

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

12a

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

14

Big cats prowling by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

15

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

16

Sepecat Jaguar GR.3 XX725 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

17

Sepecat Jaguar GR.3 XX725 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

18

Sepecat Jaguar GR.3 XX725 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

19

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

20

Sepecat Jaguar GR.3 XX725 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

21

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

22

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

23

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX835 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

24

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX847 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

25

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX835 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

26

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX835 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

27

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX847 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

28

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX847 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

29

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX835 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

30

Spotty by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

31

The crews by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

32

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

33

The office by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

34

The business end by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

35

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX835 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

36

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

37

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX847 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

38

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX835 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

39

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX847 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

40

Big cats on the prowl by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

41

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

42

Sepecat Jaguar GR.3 XX725 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

43

Sepecat Jaguar GR.3 XX725 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

44

Sepecat Jaguar GR.3 XX725 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

45

Sepecat Jaguar T.4 XX835 by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

46

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

47

Sepecat Jaguar GR3A XX119 AI "Spotty" by Ian Garfield, on Flickr

[wv383]

What a great - and extensive - set! Thanks for posting.

[reheat module]

Worth the wait!

[tankbuster81]

Awesome post!

[Tommy]

Only 18 months late!

Great set, pal. I have very fond memories of that day.

[Ian G]

Thanks chaps! I can only apologise about the lateness, I blame my wife. As we're renovating our house, plastering meant that I had to move my computer out of the spare room and downstairs in to the living room. Trouble now is that if I use the computer in the evening, she's now complaining that I don't spend time with her!!!

[Airwolfhound]

Very nice, love number 30 . Thanks for (eventually) sharing

[BDL]

Well worth the wait, thanks for posting.