Trying to be as non-political as possible here, but just wanted to bring it to our attention that it looks like the UK's Harrier and Nimrod fleet (along with the Ark Royal) are done. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11570593

Looks like the status of a few RAF bases are uncertain now too. It's always tough losing an iconic aircraft. The Aussies recently with the F-111, the US a few years ago with the Tomcat, and now the UK with their Harriers.

I went up to Kinloss and Lossie the other year and had a poke around the Nimrod and Tornados whilst we were there.

A sad day indeed. 

In a previous life involving a blue suit and sometimes a nice green one, I was an engine tech on Harriers for just short of 10 years. You either loved them or hated them, I fell in love at first sight. I managed to work on every MK, from the (I believe) the last GR1 that was modded up to Gr3, the GR3, T4, T4a light weight, Gr5, Gr5a, Gr7, and T10. Also did an engine change on the T4 Night bird. As memory recalls she was a Boscombe Down aircraft that had been modded so heavily with early night flying and a small amount of fly by wire that it only looked like a harrier! The one thing that really sticks in my mind, when doing a "tie down" (max engine run) sat at 108% with the nozzles aft, the aircraft vibrated so much you thought your teeth would come out. Move the nozzle lever to the hover stop and the world went quiet and as smooth as a Cashmere codpiece . Also with the cabin conditioning set to max cold, you could make it snow in the cockpit

Sorry to see them go, lots and lots of happy memories.......Like going out to do an engine start after changing the ignitor plugs (you would not wish that job on your worst enemy) and forgetting to reset the ignition isolation switch. One of those On is Off switches. So the engine is turning on the GTS, I move the throttle from cut off to idle and nothing happens. Wait a second or two and realise what I have done, forgotten the switch. It is over my right shoulder and behind me. So I took the easy option and hit the relight button on the throttle. This button has no isolate for obvious reasons. I feel a "thump" through the airframe and get light up and all looks good. After the run up, Sengo comes over and informs me that watching the entire day shift leaving Rec's Control like it is a Friday and a beer call is on as a large fire ball rolls inbound is not to be repeated whist he is on duty again I have the Harrier to thank for some great times and travels. From Alaska, to the West and East Coast of the States, Denmark to Turkey and all the counties between......and Scotland and Yorkshire too, but the less said the better for those locations

Matt

Rich H wrote on Oct 20^th, 2010 at 5:52pm:


Ironically it's the fact we are involved in Afghanistan that has been the death knell for both the Harrier and the Nimrod.

With the Tornado planned to do the job there until we leave, the Harrier is effectively redundant, and in "immediately" retiring it, they are saving £1bn.

The 'rod is a bit more complex. After the tragic crash in 2006, and the subsequent enquiry naming and shaming quite a few individuals personally, and the huge cost overruns provided by BAE Systems, I suspect it's been canned for a number of reasons, not necessarily based on capability.

Sad news indeed.