There was a fair percentage of the retired GR3’s that went to Cosford, the remainder were spares recovered then disposed of, mostly to/via Everit Aero.
The spares supply contracts largely dried up with the ceasation of French operations, so the stripping of these airframes makes sense. Certainly whilst still at Colt, the first few retirees were very valuable spares sources, often for the most pathetic of things like a washer! Bear in mind too that with the closure of Colt, there is limited second line support to maintain larger components.
Regarding a future flyer – the GR1’s at Cosford are mosly low houred, with older less valuable ( to the modern fleet ) avionics and instrumentation – look there for a flyer perhaps, if the trainees have not completly mullered them, or wait till 6 retire their ‘modern’ Jets – the best of the 50 or so we had flying a year ago. Trouble there is some items are Tornado / Harrier / Typhoon (? bear in mind I’m a rigger! ) compatable and may be stripped before release.
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