Salute to the Jaguar

[MA_Moby]

Yesterday I watched in awe and envy as a two seater Jaguar from RAF Coltishall made a 100 ft pass down the runway centreline at Norwich airport as I was doing the checks on the Cessna I fly in.

So it was with a sad heart that I heard the news that it is thought that it'll be announced today that the Jaguars are going to be phased out earlier than expected.

Geoff Hoons speech hasn't been made yet, so I don't know whether RAF Coltishall will be closed. I do hope not, as I have sentimental family connections with the base.

[Tumble]

Aren't the current Jag squadrons going onto the Eurofighter?

[MA_Moby]

Aren't the current Jag squadrons going onto the Eurofighter?

from what I've understood from past MoD statements - yes, probably, but there might be a gap between phase out and phase in. And they won't be stationed at Coltishall. Which means 41 squadron will end a 40 or 50 year association with the base.

[yamangman]

It's sad to see, but I reckon Coltishall is up for one hell of a chop unfortunately. We'll find out later.

[MA_Moby]

I just hope it doesn't end up like so many old bases in East Anglia - covered in chicken sheds or indutrial units! It'd be nice if it could end up in the hands of general aviation. Though I expect what's more likely is that they'll mothball it.

[Lowe]

To be fair the Jaguar isn't the best combat aircraft ever used in service so no great loss there...

But even so, tis nice to see any military jet having a play, especially in style down the runway

[MA_Moby]

To be fair the Jaguar isn't the best combat aircraft ever used in service so no great loss there...

It's success has been in it's adaptability. It was originally conceived as a trainer! Then found a new role in close support/ground attack. And laterly in front line reconaissance. It was certainly more adaptable than many of the British designs that had precursed it during the 50's and 60's (the French influence there I think). Though obviously it isn't a touch on multi-role airframes like the F-15 and the SU Flanker family, or indeed some of it's earlier allies - the F4 family for instance.

What is puzzling is how front line units get cut, while the Red Arrows survive. Scared of public outcry I guess.

[[GSV]Trig]

It might not be the best Lowe but look at what its being replaced with...

We used to build planes to do a specific job, and they did it VERY well, look at the Buccaneer...

All of the decent planes we had/have are just being replaced with generic crap IMHO...

[nichomach]

To be fair the Jaguar isn't the best combat aircraft ever used in service so no great loss there...

But even so, tis nice to see any military jet having a play, especially in style down the runway

Hmmm...it's still the loss of 42 front line strike aircraft at a time when the UK is unlikely to face sustained air attack but IS involved in operations which might require a lot of air-to-mud (or sand) work. Mind you, they're slashing an F3 squadron as well. And don't get me started on what they're doing to the Army and Navy - four infantry battalions gone, and (this impacts locally to me) the Queen's Lancashire Regiment scheduled for amalgamation with two others to form "The Lancashire and Borders Regiment". It was bad enough getting rid of The Loyal Regiment to begin with but this?

"RAF to shed 7,500 jobs and the Navy 1,500 jobs by 2008. A further 10,000 civilian posts across the services to be cut.

Four infantry battalions - three from England and one from Scotland - to be cut.

Three type-42 destroyers and three type-23 frigates taken out of service from the Royal Navy by March 2006.

One RAF Tornado F-3 air defence squadron to be cut and the withdrawal of two Jaguar squadrons would be brought forward to 2006, with the final Jaguar squadron to be disbanded in 2007.

RAF Coltishall in Norfolk to close by the end of 2006.

The Navy will gain two new large aircraft carriers. The oldest destroyers - HMS Cardiff, Newcastle and Glasgow will be pensioned off by the end of next year. Three anti-submarine frigates - HMS Norfolk, Marlborough and Grafton will be pensioned off by 2006."

[MA_Moby]

We used to build planes to do a specific job, and they did it VERY well, look at the Buccaneer...

If you can get a plane that can do it all, and do it all well, then that's great. I suspect the Eurofighter Typhoon might not be that plane though.

Most of those cold war era planes were deisgned to do very specific things. The Javelin, to be an all weather intercepter. The Lightning to climb to altitude blimmin' quick and intercept Soviet bombers. V bombers - to drop big old nukes. The Tornado to take out East German airfields. The Buccaneer to be a flippin' hard nut carrier bourne groundpounder. All good at what they were designed for but crap if you asked them to do other stuff. But it just isn't realistic to design such specific aeroplanes in this era. And lets face it, Britain's aeroplane designing days are pretty much over

[[GSV]Trig]

Eurofighter was a good idea at the time, unfortunetly we tried to do it in partnership with people and politics got in the way, by the time it goes active it'll be out of date

[PE_Kras]

bad news on your local airfiled moby

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/3913961.stm

shame.

[Stoo]

It's been looked at for a new regional airport iirc Norwich airport is stuck for space, but with Coltishall you've got scope for the bigger aircraft, and more flights from multiple runways..

[MA_Moby]

It's been looked at for a new regional airport iirc Norwich airport is stuck for space, but with Coltishall you've got scope for the bigger aircraft, and more flights from multiple runways..

It's actually got fewer runways than Norwich (which is also a former RAF field - once RAF Horsham St. Faith - great name) but more room to expand, and the runway it does have is longer than Norwich Airports main runway. There are also fewer local councellors complaining about noise etc. I think it's unlikely though that Norwich's commercial operations will pack up and move to Coltishall.

[Stoo]

yup, but with Norwich they're stuck, they can't expand so they can't get the flights in to compete and get the new destinations.. it really wouldn't surprise me if they moved..

But knowing what usually happens it'll get sold off cheap and they'll stuff a few thousand houses on it