The Last Flight From RAF Coltishall
…of a military jet anyway!
The Jaguar GR.3A that went “tech” Saturday afternoon finally departed from RAF Coltishall Monday 3rd April 2006.
Jaguar GR.3A XZ112 [GW] (with the 65th Anniversary Tail) departed at 16:23 and requested flypasts.
1st Flypast was high speed, low level from the east banking right over the threshold to “buzz” the tower (I’m sure he took some aerials with him!)
2nd Flypast was also high speed, low level from the east, straight down the runway waggling his wings.
3rd and final Flypast was from the north, heading over the tower then pulling up vertical into the clouds. He then departed to Coningsby.
At 16:40 the tower announced “This Is RAF Coltishall Tower …….Coltishall Airfield Is Now Closed”. The 50 or so spotters present in the field fell silent, this was the final moment, I’m sure many like myself “welled up” at the closure of this last Battle Of Britain airfield.
The crew of the “Runway Caravan” then let off red & green flares for 10 mins before racing the crew landrover down the runway. It was funny that when they requested permission to do a “pass” down the runway, they were answered “ok, but not below 500ft as there were still children crying and car alarms going off from the Jaguar”!
…somebody’s been promoted!
Notice the onlookers from the tower!
And the crew let off their final pyros before doing a race down the runway!
Enjoy
🙂
Andy
By: BIGVERN1966 - 16th April 2006 at 23:03
As for the Specials, the 112 birds (XX (EA) 6 Sqn and XZ (GW)) will most likely be the only Jaguars to keep the tails (plus of course the 6 Sqn hanger queen which has the same markings as EA). The 41 Squadron End of an Era tail will be stripped in the very near future, as the aircraft will be a 😀 😀 Canopener 😀 😀 . XZ112 was of course the 54 Sqn disbandment kite before getting the Colt 65th Tail. I’ve no idea what happened to the Saints disbandment aircraft
Just been told by Canopener Al, that XX112 had its Tail Markings removed on its last Major at Saint’s. XZ112 is now at Shawbury as is the 6 Sqn Hanger Queen. However 6 Sqn have got the Tail of the Hanger Queen and it is now at Coningsby
By: Shadow1 - 12th April 2006 at 05:16
Love the Jag, always thought it was a cracking jet. French pilots always put theirs throught their paces in the south of France where I grew up. Became very fond of it over the years. It pains me to know that both the UK and France have retired these wonderful machines.
By: BIGVERN1966 - 9th April 2006 at 17:47
I was told on another forum 😮 that the pilot was Wing Commander Blake.
I didn’t know this for sure, but I’ve been told today that Wing Commander Blake (little :diablo: ) is actually a Group Captain (which I thought he was), and has been for 4 months. Flt Lt Jim Luke 😎 was flying XZ112 on Monday and that final run was at just under 600 Knots (Jim is quoted as saying that is was very noisy in the cockpit on the final run).
Damian and Andy, Contact me privately please.
Richie
By: ollieholmes - 9th April 2006 at 00:07
Cough cough, Northolt…
And also active, if no longer RAF, are Biggin Hill, Manston, North Weald, Duxford, Fowlmere, Exeter and Middle Wallop…
I suppose Colt was the last Battle of Britain station still in frontline RAF service though.
Middle Wallops still in millitary hands, okay its used by the Army as a Helicopter base but its still in millitary hands.
By: BIGVERN1966 - 8th April 2006 at 20:02
Cough cough, Northolt…
And also active, if no longer RAF, are Biggin Hill, Manston, North Weald, Duxford, Fowlmere, Exeter and Middle Wallop…
I suppose Colt was the last Battle of Britain station still in frontline RAF service though.
I was just about to say the same thing, and anyway the main foward base that Coltishall’s Spitfires and Hurricanes flew from during the Battle still has Merlin powered aircraft operating from it.
However a ‘Q’ shed and some F3’s at Northolt would be a bl**dy good idea in this day and age.
By: Manston Airport - 8th April 2006 at 19:59
Very sad to see the last RAF jet fly from Colt 🙁 Just have too wait and see what happens to Colt now
And i agree on the save the last Colt Jaguar” savings account 😀
james
By: BIGVERN1966 - 8th April 2006 at 09:01
Hi BigVern, I was told on another forum 😮 that the pilot was Wing Commander Blake.
I don’t want to start any flaming, but I’d like to get the correct info rather than stick my foot in it with someone 😉
Are you positive that it was Jim Luke?
I’d like to get the info right for my website.I agree Damien, This Jag and the other “tailed” Jags should end up in museums, they’re part of history now! There are no more active RAF “Battle Of Britain” era airfields left now, it’s a shame that Colt’s runways will probably get ripped up to be used as hardcore!
Cheers
Andy
Andy
Wing Commander Blake was in the aircraft on Saturday :diablo: . I’ve talked to a number of people and they all say that Jim Luke was in that aircraft on Monday 😎 . (And that has been confirmed by 😀 😀 my brother 😀 😀 who is on 6 Squadron and knows him 😉 . Mick Jennings has also confirmed it when I talked to him on Wednesday 😀 ).
As for the Specials, the 112 birds (XX (EA) 6 Sqn and XZ (GW)) will most likely be the only Jaguars to keep the tails (plus of course the 6 Sqn hanger queen which has the same markings as EA). The 41 Squadron End of an Era tail will be stripped in the very near future, as the aircraft will be a 😀 😀 Canopener 😀 😀 . XZ112 was of course the 54 Sqn disbandment kite before getting the Colt 65th Tail. I’ve no idea what happened to the Saints disbandment aircraft :confused: .
No problems with the flaming, getting the story right is the most important thing. (I do know a lot more, but it’s the old case of, if I tell you, I’ve then got to kill you 😉 . The simple story, however, I’ve already mentioned on another thread in this forum that has no place here. But the subject does have the word 😉 BUN 😉 in it.).
Richie (AKA Bigvern1966)
By: Plane Mad - 8th April 2006 at 01:09
Jim Luke of 6 Sqn was the pilot.
Hi BigVern, I was told on another forum 😮 that the pilot was Wing Commander Blake.
I don’t want to start any flaming, but I’d like to get the correct info rather than stick my foot in it with someone 😉
Are you positive that it was Jim Luke?
I’d like to get the info right for my website.
I agree Damien, This Jag and the other “tailed” Jags should end up in museums, they’re part of history now! There are no more active RAF “Battle Of Britain” era airfields left now, it’s a shame that Colt’s runways will probably get ripped up to be used as hardcore!
Cheers
Andy
By: BIGVERN1966 - 7th April 2006 at 21:51
Top Photos Andy. Jim Luke of 6 Sqn was the pilot (don’t be surprised if a request for prints comes from his direction). Nice to see you included the Air Traffic boys and their Wagons (I spent a couple of hours in that caravan taking video of the Jaguars operating back in 1998 for a Computer presentation about Airfield Navaids, Radars and other RAF ground based electronic systems for the last but one Royal Tournament). I’ve been told that XZ112 will not be operated at Coningsby, but is one of the jaguars going into storage at Shawbury. Hopefully one day a museum will get her.
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April 7, 2006 at 8:55 pm