The Jaguar's last roar
238 Squadron / 1 SoTT
RAF Cosford
August 31, 2016
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The fire department's final salute. |
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The final line-up. |
This was the last day 238 Squadron were able to start up their Jaguar GR.3s for a final spin around RAF Cosford.
The first SEPECAT Jaguar was delivered from the British Aerospace Warton factory in 1974. The type continued in service until 2007 when they were retired. For many of these jets the final flight was to RAF Cosford for 238 Squadron to use as ground instructional airframes. This included starting them up for a quick taxi around the small airfield. From now on they will still be used for instructional duties in the engineering training role but the Big Cat's Adour engine's will no longer be asked to roar in to life.
238 Squadron is part of No.1 School of Technical Training at RAF Cosford with the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering (DSAE) their ground handling will now be conducted synthetically using simulators. DSAE currently have 61 Jaguars in their care. They should be praised for organising this final event for 150 enthusiasts.
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| Jaguar GR.3A (XX119 'AI') aka 'Spotty'. |
| Left to right: 'Spotty' as this stunningly beautiful Jaguar GR.3A (XX119 'AI') is affectionly named is in a scheme that was applied just days before the Jaguar's flying days were ended in 2007. |
| Jaguar GR.3A (XX119) aka 'Spotty' taxiing on to the ramp. |
| Jaguar GR.3A (XX725 'KC-F') in Operation GRANBY desert pink, aka 'Sandy'. |
Left to right: Jaguar GR.3A (XX725 'KC-F') Operation GRANBY in desert pink with the recently added World War One 238 Squadron code 'KC-F'.
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| Jaguar GR.3A (XX725 'KC-F') in Operation GRANBY desert pink, aka 'Sandy'. |
| Two-seat Jaguar T.4 (XX835 'EX') in its former 6 Squadron markings. |
Left to right: Two-seat Jaguar T.4 (XX835 'EX') in its former 6 Squadron markings.
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| Two-seat Jaguar T.4 (XX847 'EZ') in its former 6 Squadron markings. |
Left to right: Two-seat Jaguar T.4 (XX847 'EZ') in its former 6 Squadron markings.
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| Jaguar GR.3As (XX117 'ES' and XX738 'ED') in their former 6 Squadron markings, they did not taxi on the day. |
Left to right: Jaguar GR.3As (XX117 'ES' and XX738 'ED') in their former 6 Squadron markings. The four pilots who taxied the Jaguars on their final spin around the airfield under their own power.
Jaguar GR.3A (XX748 'L') still in its former 6 Squadron markings in January 2019. |
