Yes, sadly the Jaguar isn’t “modern military aviation” anymore after this month đŽ :
Taken from Pprune.org:
“Jaguar Farewell
—————————————————————————
Today I announced to the members of 6 Squadron that the Jaguar OSD is to
be brought forward to 30 Apr 07. All operationally orientated training
will cease on this date and the Jaguar will no longer be a deployable
Force Element. Delivery of the airframes to Cosford will then commence and
I have been instructed that any ceremonial flying must be concluded during
May.
Naturally, this comes as a great disappointment to all members of the
Jaguar Force. I do not consider it feasible to organise an event to
celebrate 33 years of stalwart service with due gravity with only 5 weeks
notice. I am also conscious that such short notice would compromise
attendance.
I have therefore elected to organise the final Jaguar Farewell for the
weekend of 29 Jun â 1 Jul 07, reluctantly accepting that this will be
without the nostalgia of RAF Jaguar flying.
Despite the short notice, I am determined to do justice to an aircraft
that has enjoyed, uniquely, such long and extensive RAF service and a
Force that has long been characterised by its easy camaraderie but
indomitable spirit.
A programme of events is therefore already shaping up that will allow all
current and ex-Jaguar RAF personnel to celebrate their association and
affection for this remarkable aircraft and the ethos that has come to
surround it. The Jaguar Force only relocated to RAF Coningsby in April 06
and the weekend of 29 Jun â 1 Jul will also provide an opportunity to
formally thank the families of the current Jag Force for their steadfast
support and loyal endurance of the associated domestic turbulence.
An aircraft enthusiastsâ day on Fri 29 Jun will be based around
invitations to all RAF ex-Jaguar squadrons to fly their current types into
RAF Coningsby; invitations are also being extended to the French AF and
representation sought from friendly international operators of the Jaguar,
such as Oman and India, and those nations that have contributed exchange
pilots. As is traditional, Happy Hour will be held in the Officersâ Mess.
On Sat 30 Jun, the Squadron accommodation will be open and there will be
an opportunity to view the last 2 remaining RAF Jaguars and the visiting
aircraft, while also enjoying a number of flying displays. The main event
will be the âEnd of Jaguar Ballâ in the evening; it is hoped that all 3
messes will hold functions so that all ranks can participate equally.
The short notice is most regrettable and will undoubtedly inconvenience
many, but this is due to circumstances beyond our control and, for
perspective, I would ask that a thought is spared for the immediate
uncertainty that now faces the current Force.
Despite the short notice, I am confident that many will take this last
opportunity to celebrate their membership of such an exclusive cadre and I
encourage all to book early to avoid disappointment as Mess capacity will
inevitably limit numbers. Early notice will also ease substantially the
administrative burden of this venture! Therefore, any serving and
ex-serving Jaguar personnel who may like to attend any or all of the
proposed celebrations should forward their contact details to 6 Sqn as
follows:
Jaguar Retirement Celebrations
6 Sqn
RAF Coningsby
Lincolnshire
LN4 4SY
External email:
Internal email: CON-6Sqn-JagRet Grp Mail
Tel – 01526 34 6496
Fax – 01526 346499
Initial contact details must be received by 31 May to enable event details
to be dispatched and final payment to be received by 15 Jun. The Officersâ
Mess Ball will cost ÂŁ45 for each ex-Jaguar officer and the same price
levied for the first guest; additional guests will be subject to approval
and will attract a higher fee. Please consider sending your attendance
money along with your initial contact details as this will further
streamline the process at a time when our main effort is, clearly, to
secure the future of our serving personnel.
Finally, please forward these details to any other ex-Jaguar personnel
that you are still in contact with to enable maximum attendance. I look
forward to seeing you at what should be a memorable, if slightly sad,
weekend of celebrations.
John Sullivan
OC6
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By: Robert Hilton - 27th April 2007 at 16:56
Yep, The RAF Regt Depot, home to 1, II, 15 and 27 Sqn’s RAF Regt and FP Wg HQ amongst others.
Yep, remember 1 when they were at Laarbruch.
By: vicky ten - 27th April 2007 at 07:33
Yep, The RAF Regt Depot, home to 1, II, 15 and 27 Sqn’s RAF Regt and FP Wg HQ amongst others.
By: Robert Hilton - 26th April 2007 at 22:02
Honington is still open.
Home to the Rock Apes I believe.
By: bexWH773 - 26th April 2007 at 20:58
Chivenor is still open, Chinook and Lynx operating there this week
Went from RAF to ATC / CCF AEF & Gliding to Royal Marines Airbase. Bex
By: Seaking93 - 26th April 2007 at 20:43
Chivenor is still open, Chinook and Lynx operating there this week
By: 92fis - 26th April 2007 at 18:57
Binbrook, Machrihanish, Honington, St Athan, Swinderby, Laarbruch all closed and still Marham is open! Call that justice!
Honington is still open.
By: vicky ten - 26th April 2007 at 18:57
I agree totally, add Coltishall, Chivenor, Brawdy, Bruggen, Wildenrath, Gutersloh to the pile as well.
As for Honington, it is still there in it’s entirety, albeit not in a flying role though.
By: Robert Hilton - 26th April 2007 at 18:48
I think this will be inevitable to some degree, although it is to be a contracted Tri-Service venture, and as ‘RAF St Athan’ officially closed last year………….
Binbrook, Machrihanish, Honington, St Athan, Swinderby, Laarbruch all closed and still Marham is open! Call that justice!
By: vicky ten - 26th April 2007 at 08:20
So training is going back to St Athan? Will it be No 4 S of TT?
I think this will be inevitable to some degree, although it is to be a contracted Tri-Service venture, and as ‘RAF St Athan’ officially closed last year………….
By: SCOTTY GR4 - 25th April 2007 at 21:34
argh
Hows S**ts that They should paint a fairwell scheme on one jet quickly :mad
By: JagRigger - 25th April 2007 at 18:11
ZB615 has already gone, withdrawn some months ago. ( listed on demobbed, but so I can tell you! )
By: JagRigger - 25th April 2007 at 18:10
ZB615 has already gone, withdrawn some months ago.
By: WP840 - 25th April 2007 at 14:51
One of a pair I expect will continue to be used for some time yet…!
By: 12jaguar - 25th April 2007 at 12:21
Foreign Jags
To the best of my knowledge the Nigerian Jags hardly ever flew and at one stage the MOD were looking into getting some of them back as they all had less than 100 flying hours on them. But their Mod state was so low and the nasties that had crawled into them made the cost prohibitive. A sad day and end to my 13 year association with them.:(
By: ALBERT ROSS - 25th April 2007 at 10:08
OK – I’ll let you get away with putting my beloved Pussy Cat in historic as long as you add the rider ‘RAF or French Air Force’ – come on, the Indians are still making them!
Are the Nigerian and Ecuador Jags still in service?:confused:
By: TEEJ - 25th April 2007 at 07:55
OK – I’ll let you get away with putting my beloved Pussy Cat in historic as long as you add the rider ‘RAF or French Air Force’ – come on, the Indians are still making them!
Ah well, at least we outlasted the F14……;)
Nope. The F-14 is still flying with the Iranians.
By: Robert Hilton - 25th April 2007 at 07:48
Blimey thats come around quickly.
Its hard to believe that they are on their way out so soon. Now Im feeling very very old. đ
Anybody know why the airframes are going to Cosford? I thought the schools that Im assuming would be using them at Cosford were moving to St Athan?
So training is going back to St Athan? Will it be No 4 S of TT?
By: JagRigger - 25th April 2007 at 06:50
OK – I’ll let you get away with putting my beloved Pussy Cat in historic as long as you add the rider ‘RAF or French Air Force’ – come on, the Indians are still making them!
Ah well, at least we outlasted the F14……;)
By: badger617 - 24th April 2007 at 22:18
The move from Cosford to St Athen will not happen for another 3 to 4 years at least.
By: Phantom Phixer - 24th April 2007 at 22:07
Blimey thats come around quickly.
Its hard to believe that they are on their way out so soon. Now Im feeling very very old. đ
Anybody know why the airframes are going to Cosford? I thought the schools that Im assuming would be using them at Cosford were moving to St Athan?
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April 24, 2007 at 8:58 pm