Bye bye Harriers :( a true British Icon

The Harrier jump jet has made its final flight, from RAF Cottesmore in Rutland today :cry:

From the BBC: Harrier jump jets make final flight from RAF Cottesmore

One of Britain's greatest technical achievements was retired early after falling victim to defence cuts. In celebration of the aircraft, Harriers passed over seven military bases.

There were 16 flying in a diamond formation. Watch the news tonight folks, this is the end of an era and something none of us will witness again. I do wish I could have got up to Lincolnshire to have seen it. Having worked on the Harrier for many years I'm very sad, maybe not quite as sad as the pilots etc who are now out of a job. Many of my ex-colleagues were up there today I'm hoping they will return with some good photos.

 

Very true pete. It's politicians that create wars, if it was down to common sense there would have been world peace years ago. i wouldn't have minded if the Harriers were being retired for that reason.

It was due to be retired in 2018 which is the year I'm going to be 65. I always thought we would retire together! Trouble is the govt is moving retirement age forward on one hand and cancelling jobs with the other.

 

:cry:I think it is utter madness to retire these planes.. As I understand it the replacements are not so good...

Our Airman friend sent us these photos.. The Diamond formation is truly spectacular..


They even painted some in the old style camo for the flypast's... This is an incredible shot I think..

 

Great photos Marley, I heard that it was very low cloud at Cottesmore so not many got to see the diamond formation from the ground, so it's good to see that photo. I'm on another flying forum and haven't yet seen any really good photos posted yet, your second photo detail is the best so far.

 

I don't understand it either Fidgetsmum. I wouldn't mind if the overall result was saving money for the tax payer, but the reverse seems to be the case. The govt had just spent a very large fortune updating the Harriers over the last few years and will have to pay compensation for all the contracts they had only just put in place for the next 8 years!.

As for the aircraft carriers, the last govt thought they could save money by delaying the contract another two years but still keeping the same number of people to work on it. Even my little brain could work out that actually costs 100s of millions if not billions of pounds more in the long run.

These join the list of money pit projects the govts have poured money into over the years for no result such as ID cards and the NHS IT fiasco.