Cosford's Kestrel and other Capers

There’s plenty of other hardware at Cosford that 238 Sqn practice on that not many people are probably aware of

I wonder how many will end up as pots and pans when it all moves to Lyneham.

Heres photo’s from Farnborough 1964 & 1966 (Air to Air)

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For those old enough to remember (like me!) Kestrel XS695 was demonstrated at the SBAC show at Farnborough in September 1966 in RAF markings, after the Tripartite Evaluation Squadron trials had finished at West Raynham.

I’m sure this has been asked before but. How far off being in airworthy condition are the Jaguars ?

I’m afraid they will never be airworthy, from what I can gather the re-heat has been inhibited on all the Jags at Cosford but would love to be proved wrong!

There’s plenty of other hardware at Cosford that 238 Sqn practice on that not many people are probably aware of, I was lucky a couple of years ago to be invited to an unofficial tour of the base on the Saturday before the Airshow. The aircraft were moved from their hangars to make way for exhibitions/demos for the weekend.

Follow the link!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timc63/sets/72157630344985636/

Cheers
Tim

Indeed. A significant preservation hole plugged in the story of the Harrier.

Wasn’t there one in use for Flightdeck handling training at Culdrose at one time, or did I imagine that?

The Kestrel at Cosford (XS695) is the one that was used at Culdrose as well (along with the P1127 XP984 now at Brooklands, formerly at Dunsfold). the one at Yeovilton (XP980) was used for Barrier trials prior to this, hence the Harrier wing.

There is a tale however – at some point, the wings all became swapped, so that XP984 had the wing from XS695 and XS695 had a P1127 wing. When Dunsfold restroed XP984, it was with the Kestrel wing, which is almost correct as externally XP984 was the same as a Kestrel. The P1127 wing was from an earlier airframe – most likely XP980. When the RAFM started the restoration of XS695, they reclaimed the wing from XP984 at Brooklands, leaving it with an incorrect P1127 wing.

I’m delighted at what Cosford have done – having seen the state that she was in when she arrived at Cosford, they have done an amazing job.

Thanks to Tim and Mike for sharing their excellent photos.

Just when you thought they couldn’t outdo themselves.. they just did! Beautiful job on that Kestrel! Any idea what’s happening with the Lincoln?

Nice pictures, and fascinating place to visit. I’ve only been the once, when we were staying in Shropshire for a holiday.

I’m sure this has been asked before but. How far off being in airworthy condition are the Jaguars ?

I thought the Kestrel had been with RAFM for quite some time – do I not remember it being at Cardington, or was that something else?

Indeed. A significant preservation hole plugged in the story of the Harrier.

Wasn’t there one in use for Flightdeck handling training at Culdrose at one time, or did I imagine that?

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XP980, now in the Fleet Air Arm Museum. The Harrier wing doesn’t fit any better today than when I photographed it in July 1988. :rolleyes:

You’ll kick yourself…

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/01/31/wartime-heroes-at-raf-cosford-to-make-sure-memories-will-live-on/

Thanks Anon for the Kestrel pics. It’s amazingly complete (and remarkably different instrument-wise to the Harrier!)

The Kestrel looks superb! Thanks for sharing the pics. How long did she spend under restoration? I looked round the MBCC back in about 2002 and she was there I think.

The Royal Air Force

(No 1 SoTT)

Who operates (and owns) these Jaguars?

Jon

Indeed. A significant preservation hole plugged in the story of the Harrier.

Wasn’t there one in use for Flightdeck handling training at Culdrose at one time, or did I imagine that?

What a lovely thing – Compliments to the conservation team at Cosford.

Kestrel cockpit shots

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Anon.

Jaguars <3

Anon- I would! The rapidity of the Kestrel’s restoration has left me wondering how complete it is internally-although I must say they’ve certainly done a super job on the outside!
Thanks Tim for your posting 🙂

I was able to get a sequence of cockpit shots of the Kestrel last year. No intention to upstage the thread but would anyone be interested in seeing them posted?

Anon.