Update on RAF/RN Harriers.

Steyr

Seen on another Site:

41(R)Sqaudron (Coningsby) to disband Harrier Fleet on the 29/10/10.

4(R)Sqaudron RAF Wittering aircraft moved to RAF Cottesmore by 29/10/10, squadron to disband 29/10/10.

800 Naval Air Squadron - To disband 31/03/11 some pilots transferred to US Navy Pilot School to commence carrier training.

1(F) Squadron - To disband 31/03/11 some pilots transferred to US Navy Pilot School to commence carrier training.

Steyr

**Update**

Seen on another site:

No JFH* flying on Fridays from now on. IV Sqn is not disbanding first, or moving to Cott. 41 Sqns jets will be leaving Coningsby sometime soon though for Cott/Witt.

JFH-Joint Force Harrier.

Cott/Witt-RAF Cottesmore/RAF Wittering.

Steyr

**UPDATE**

http://www.key.aero/view_news.asp?ID=2688&thisSection=military

First squadron loses its Harriers

The first Royal Air Force unit has lost its Harrier GR9s after the shock news of the type's withdrawal from service.

Gary Parsons - 4-Nov-2010



November 4: Nr. 41(R) Squadron based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire became the first Royal Air Force unit to lose its Harrier GR9s today as the three aircraft departed for RAF Cottesmore in Rutland.

The squadron is the Operational Evaluation Unit for the Harrier GR9 and Tornado GR4, but after the announcement of the axing of the Harrier in the recent Government Strategic Defence and Security Review will be left with just the Tornado.

“The announcement on October 19 was a complete surprise,” said Wing Commander Rich Davies, Officer Commanding 41(R) Squadron. “The official announcement came through the chain of command about two o’clock in the afternoon. It was a complete shock and hugely devastating. It was probably the worst day of my career.

“The timeline is perhaps the biggest shock – we all knew there would be dramatic cuts [in SDSR] but we didn’t think the timeline would be as quick as it’s been.” As well as losing three aircraft, four pilots are affected, although none of the engineering team is affected as they are all cross-skilled on both Tornado and Harrier.

Sqn Ldr Steve ‘Raz’ Berry is one of the four – “There’s a state of shell-shock [in the Harrier Force] on the front-line. Everyone’s chin is down – the Harrier Force as a whole is making sure that the drawdown in not done piece-meal and that everyone knows where they’re going.

“We were testing right to the end – we were three days off starting a really big programme at Boscombe Down that we’d cancelled leave for and were planning Saturday flying. You’re sprinting then suddenly told to stop, that momentum isn’t there any more.” Steve will be re-roled on to the Tornado GR4, as will another of his colleagues.

But 41’s work will continue – “We will gain another two Tornado GR4s to bring the total to five aircraft compared to the six we operated with both types,” said Wg Cdr Davies. “The team of engineers and analysts will remain unchanged.”

Any modifications that were on the Harriers specific to 41(R) have been removed and they will continue to fly from Cottesmore until the end of the year.