Wednesday, February 6th, 2008
The Jaguar
This fighter plane was given a new home a year ago right outside County Hall. It’s a tad scary in case the screws don’t hold up the plane. It’s pointing towards the Archive Centre.
From the EDP:
Its departure was rather slower but equally dramatic, as RAF “crash-and-smash†experts craned the warplane off its plinth, ready for its final sortie, when it heads to a new home 10 miles away outside Norfolk’s County Hall.
When the last bolt was spannered loose, the seven-tonne plane suddenly lurched free of its mountings. As it dived towards the ground there was a shout to the crane driver and the Jaguar soared into the sky - swinging wildly for a moment until a swarm of airmen holding tethering ropes tamed the big cat.
Slowly it was lowered on to a set of wooden blocks and rubber mats, where it sat awaiting removal of its wings, tail and fin. It will be stored until its new stand is ready and the team returns to lift it into place.
Coltishall’s Jaguars saw action around both Gulf wars, but the ageing planes are now seeing out their days at Coningsby before being pensioned off in October.
The Jaguar “gate guardian†is a real aircraft, not a replica. The prototype plane first flew in 1970 and was retired seven years later after 678 hours of flying - including landing on the newly-built M56 motorway near Blackpool, to test the plane’s capability of operating in theatres of war where there might not be a proper runway.
Today’s Harrier-style vertical take-off was a vital training exercise for the recovery-and-transport flight which made the 250-mile trip from RAF St Athan in South Wales.
Flight Sgt Tom Emmett said the team, as well as moving unserviceable aircraft for repairs, dealt with crashed military and civilian planes, and had to be able to lift them from a variety of locations.
Although the Coltishall job had looked dramatic for a moment, there were no unforeseen difficulties and the crane operator had been briefed to winch it upwards as soon as it broke free.
The RAF is covering the cost of moving the plane, with the county council picking up the £15,000 tab for the new plinth.
A team of ex-Jaguar Coltishall servicemen has volunteered to help maintain the Jaguar.
Sqn Leader Jason Hughes, who commands the remaining RAF detachment at the base, including a team checking the 750-acre airfield for old bullets and practice bombs, will leave at the end of March.
The removal of the Jaguar was another bit of the base’s history disappearing, but it will stay in the county, where it is also a memorial to more than 30 Jaguar fliers and groundcrew who died in the plane’s 30-year service history.
I am many things - a life coach, a diversity champion, a freelance writer and translator, a dog lover, a citizen of the world, etc - but never thought of myself as a photographer. Norwich inspires me to capture snapshots of this fine Norman city. Take a trip down Norwich lanes or enjoy a walk in the park with me.
on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 2:55 am:
My son would love that plane….it’s so sleek!
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on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 5:07 am:
We had a fighter plane like this up on a pedestal at a park near us. People objected and they took it away–eventually.
Meanwhile, we’d gotten used to it and now the park seems strangely empty.
COOL SHOT.
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on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 5:41 am:
Hopefully, there are no loose screws!
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on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 5:50 am:
Wow! Very cool.
Paz
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on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 6:16 am:
this looks like a powerful plane. great one!
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on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 9:30 am:
Ah, one of Coltishall’s old Jaguars.
I miss the annual air show there now that the base is closed.
But it’s good to see Norfolk’s role in air defence recognised with the plane on display at County Hall.
We really ought to have a Spitfire and a Hurricane and a Defiant (a night fighter built in Norwich), plus a B17 to honour all the American fliers stationed here during WW2.
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on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 12:21 pm:
Great image and lots of information, well done…
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on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 3:35 pm:
I always liked watching aircraft on museums or on military shows.
And when a youngster I used to buy those model planes that one as to paint and glue together.
So I really liked seeing this Jaguar fighter.
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on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 10:40 pm:
Thats a cool looking plane! My son is sleeping already, IM sure if he’d see that he’ll bombard me with questions about it.
Good that older plane fighters like this are on displya, for history reference and so…Gandang araw!
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on Thursday, February 7th, 2008 at 8:56 am:
An impressive display; great to keep things like this that have been significant in your local area.
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on Thursday, February 7th, 2008 at 9:05 am:
Reminds me of a giant plastic model, especially the stand. It’s the sort of thing I used to make as a youngster. Who remembers Airfix?
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