VIDEO + pics: Harriers leaving Ark Royal for the last time..

[Stratofreighter]

The end of an era...
All taken from http://key.aero/view_news.asp?ID=2783&t ... n=military

Videos: Last Harriers leave Ark Royal

Harriers have left HMS Ark Royal for the last time.

Gary Parsons - 24-Nov-2010

Lt Cdr Blackmore prepares to leave HMS Ark Royal early on the morning of November 24. Key – Gary Parsons

November 24: The last Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Harrier GR9s embarked on HMS Ark Royal made their final departures this morning, bringing to an end 30 years of Fleet Air Arm fixed-wing operations with both the aircraft and the CVS carriers themselves.

Four Harriers, two from 1(F) Squadron RAF and two from 800 Naval Air Squadron departed at 0900 hours, watched by the ship’s company. The weather was cold and dismal, reflecting the sad end for both Joint Force Harrier and the ship itself. The last pilot to leave was Lt Cdr James Blackmore, a navy pilot currently serving as OC A Flight with 1(F) Squadron. All four Harriers returned to RAF Cottesmore in Rutland after practicing some 2v2 air combat training.

HMS Ark Royal will return to Portsmouth on December 3 to be retired from service, its future as uncertain as that of the Harrier fleet itself, which will suspend flying operations on December 16.

Look out for more on this story in the February issue of AirForces Monthly, out on January 6.

Also:

Apologies for the shaky camerawork - it was very cold & windy!

It is November and carriers are sailing fast after all...


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKjHoCleXTA[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYav-cXKd8M[/youtube]

[andel]

A visit of the four-ship was also planned for today (24-11) as a last visit too RNAS Yeovilton .
Farewell Harrier !.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11830094