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The United
Kingdom trip 2010 |
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21-07-2019 Cottesmore |
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As roumers over a possible axing of the
Harrier Force continued it was decided to visit Cottesmore. Located North of Cottesmore village, 4
miles West of the A1, half-way between Melton Mowbray and Stamford.
RAF Cottesmore is the home of 1(F) and IV(AC) Squadrons plus 800
Naval Air Squadron with their Harrier GR.7s, GR.9s and T.10s. 3
Squadron have become a Typhoon unit and moved to RAF Coningsby.
Until early 1999 Cottesmore was the home to the Tri-National Tornado
Training Establishment (TTTE) but with its closure has become an
exclusively-Harrier station. The RAF's other major Harrier station,
RAF Wittering, is only about 20 minute's drive away to the
South-East |
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Both single seat and twin seat
Harriers are operated from RAF Cottesmore. The majority of the
single seat jets have been upgraded from GR7/A to GR9/A standard
by the BAE in the JUMP program hanger. All of the Cottesmore
based twin seat Harriers are now T12 standard.
At the end of March
2010 this changed to the three listed above. Number 20(R) Sqn at
Wittering was disbanded and IV(AC) Sqn disbanded and reformed
the same day as 4(R) Sqn to carry on the training (OCU) role at
Wittering.
In early December 2009, it was announced the base would close due to funding
cut-backs, in part to help pay for additional helicopters for British
operations in Afghanistan. The first Harriers are planned to leave the base
in April 2010 with the base closing in 2013. |
1 Sqn |
4 Sqn |
800 Sqn |
801 Sqn |
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RAF Cottesmore is now home to
the Joint Force Harrier (JFH) which consists of No 1(F) Sqn, 4(AC)Sqn and
the Naval Strike Wing of the Royal Navy, composed of a combined 800 and 801
Naval Air Sqns. Each of these operate and maintain 9 Harrier aircraft , 18
in total at front line full readiness. They currently operate Harrier GR7/7A,
GR9/9A and training T10/T12.
Due to the fact that the Harrier force had spend time in Afghanistan and a
training exercise in Lossiemouth flying was limited to six aircraft. |
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