Warplanes left RAF Coltishall for ever last year. But Jaguar jets are still “flying” on the airbase, as regional daily newspaper reporter Richard Batson discovered on a “recce” mission……..

See:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/
http://new.edp24.co.uk/

(pictures ©Eastern Daily Press/Colin Finch)

Jaguar simulator still at Coltishall

Warplane memorial saved for Norfolk

Article by Richard Batson :http://new.edp24.co.uk/

 ……… The aircraft, which has a 28ft wingspan, is 55ft long and weighs about six tones with its pylon, will have to be taken from its plinth by crane, and its wing removed before being transported on low loaders. The RAF will cover the costs of moving and mounting the Jaguar. But the council will pay £6,000 to £8,000 for preparing the plinth, another £2,000 for lighting, and up to £5,000 for a self-draining surface.

Maintenance would be carried out by former Jaguar technicians who were keen to volunteer their time. And when the Jaguars go out of RAF service in October the council will also ask for some free spare parts, such as panels, canopies and markings, to help keep the plane looking in good condition.

The move still has to seek planning permission, and a final rubber stamping from the Ministry of Defence – but with no major problems foreseen with either bit of paperwork.

The plane involved, XW563, has been standing sentinel outside the gate for the past five years.

It was a pre-production aircraft, the second Jaguar airframe ever built, and first flew in 1970.

After 678 hours of flight testing it was retired in 1977 and used as a weapon-loading trainer. Its first spell as a gate guardian was at RAF Bruggen in Germany until it moved to Coltishall in 2001.

It is a hollow shell, having had all its internal gadgetry removed, including cockpit instrumentation and ejector seat.

On arrival at Coltishall it was cleaned, repainted in gloss grey finish and remounted with drop tanks and under-wing, but empty, electronic defensive pods………….