After 26 years of service, we salute you

[waspiflab]

RAF Yeovilton's finest ends it's eara today

[Clipper]

Hats off to a beautiful aircraft and a great pic..

[simonmd]

WHAT?! No more Harriers?

[C]

WHAT?! No more Harriers?

No more Sea Harriers. The RN are borrowing a couple of sqn from the RAF instead...

[Sir_Jon]

Beautiful shot Wasp, a fitting tribute to a great aircraft

[waspiflab]

They will be shipped to India for spare parts.
Only the bombers will be used from yeovilton.

[C]

Only the bombers will be used from yeovilton.

Two RN Sqns will form on the GR7/9 at Cottesmore...

[ozzy72]

[F3Hadlow]

That is a superb pic

A sad day indeed. So now the Royal Navy has a ground attack aircraft as it's interim defence fighter for the time between now and the JSF (About 6 years IIRC, in the unlikely event the plan goes without a hitch) coming into service. An adapted (to temporary figher) ground attack aircraft is no match for pure A2A aircraft like the SHAR. Another great decision 'from the top'

[C]

'from the top'

No. 11 Downing St and the treasury...

[SkyNoz]

That is a superb pic

A sad day indeed. So now the Royal Navy has a ground attack aircraft as it's interim defence fighter for the time between now and the JSF (About 6 years IIRC, in the unlikely event the plan goes without a hitch) coming into service. An adapted (to temporary figher) ground attack aircraft is no match for pure A2A aircraft like the SHAR. Another great decision 'from the top'

are you saying that the JSF, is crap or wont perform well in combat with the squadrons of RAF?.... I'm getting really tired of people making childish comments of a aircraft that is first-front of aviation technology (particulary US aircraft). The JSF , will be the most advanced multi use fighter around when it becomes to be introduced in active service. If your not like trying to make a childish comment then I dont care.

Yes and nice pic waspiflab, I will miss the harrier as well.

[F3Hadlow]

are you saying that the JSF, is crap or wont perform well in combat with the squadrons of RAF?

Nope, I never said anything of the sort. The only mention I gave to the JSF was that it's due to be in service

[A/SGT.Mav316]

now thats a tribute, beautiful shot man. Sad to see her go too. Another great fighter down the drain! No one has ever created a fully functional VTOL fighter jet (until the new project Joint Strike Fighter came out). What is its model #? the 35 or something.

[cspyro21]

*Salutes*

A wonderful aircraft....a shame it has to be retired, but all good things come to an end eventually.

Great tribute Waspiflab!

[C]

are you saying that the JSF, is crap or wont perform well in combat with the squadrons of RAF?.... I'm getting really tired of people making childish comments of a aircraft that is first-front of aviation technology (particulary US aircraft). The JSF , will be the most advanced multi use fighter around when it becomes to be introduced in active service. If your not like trying to make a childish comment then I dont care.

Calm down mate! I think you'll find that Steven was merely referring to the Royal Navy having to use a ground attck Harrier (effectively an AV-8B) rather than the Sea Harrier FA.2 until the JSF arrives, whenever that'll be (6yrs+)...

No one has ever created a fully functional VTOL fighter jet (until the new project Joint Strike Fighter came out).

Mmm, ask the Argentines about the Sea Harrier FRS.1 "Muerta Negra"*, both the fighter pilots, and those at Stanley airfiled when the SHARs bombed them. The Sea Harrier FA.2 is no slouch either as it was the first AMRAAM equipped British fighter when it arrived in the mid 90s. Stupid decision to retire it, but entirely motivated by the treasury...

*Argentine pilots' nickname for the SHAR, the "Black Death"...