December 2nd and members of Buckminster Gliding Club were invited to RAF Cottesmore to see for the final time one of the most capable Close Air Support aircraft in the world; the mighty Harrier.

It had been over two years since BGC had last visited RAF Cottesmore, then Joint Force Harrier was still engaged in operations in Afghanistan and the future of the Harrier looked assured with the updated GR9 rolling off the BAE systems Joint Upgrade & Maintenance Programme facility at Cottesmore itself. However in that intervening period everything had changed, with Cottesmore being slated for closure in 2013 by the Rt Hon Bob Ainswoth in late 2009, worse was to follow in the aftermath of the release of SDSR, which dictated that Joint Force Harrier (JFH) would be scrapped with almost immediate effect and Cottesmore’s closure would be brought forward to 2011.

The decision was a significant blow for Rutland to say the least. Cottesmore had also been the perfect military next door neighbour to Saltby; Cottesmore’s ATC kept General Aviation (GA) and Military traffic out of harms way of Satlby.

It had to be said the visit was looking very doubtful as at the time the British Isles was in the grip of some exceptionally cold winter weather, with temperature hardly climbing above freezing and significant snow falls. However this was not enough to discourage our guide FLT LT Marcus Palmer, so our visit went ahead as planned. We all met at the gatehouse where Marcus briefed us on Health and Safety and the order of the afternoon. We then proceeded onto the snow covered base.

First point of call was 1(F) Squadron, where club members received an excellent briefing from two pilots of 1 Squadron on the Harrier GR9. 1(F) Squadron itself is the longest frontline operator of the Harrier; starting with the basic Harrier GR1 at Wittering in 1969 (233 OCU was the first to operate the Harrier GR1).  The briefing began with the pre mission briefing package which the pilots utilise (in this case how to attack a farm in mid Wales), followed by a general briefing on the aircraft and its capabilities, also the pilots personal experiences as well, ranging from engine flame outs to landing on an aircraft carrier for the first time!  Examples of survival equipment and NVG’s were passed around the briefing room for BGC club members to inspect themselves.

We then moved onto the 1(F) Squadrons hangar; with the weather situation having grounded the Harrier,this understandably this resulted in our hosts being frustrated to say the least, however what was presented to BGC members as a result was a warm hangar, full of Harrier GR9’s and the Squadron T Bird, the T12 variant. Club members were treated to guided tour of the aircraft and its systems, being allowed to inspect in particular the cockpit of one mission marked example. The Hangar also contained 1(F)Squadrons Spitfire and the specially marked GR9, to commemorate the type’s demise. 

Below: The very mission marked Harrier that BGC members were invited to inspect at close quarters on approach to Cottesmore in November 2010.

Finally it was back into our cars (to brave the snow) to make the short trip to Air Traffic Control. Firstly visiting the radar control room where the Precision Radar Approach system was demonstrated and explained amongst other items relevant to ourselves as pilots. It was dark by the time we reached tower top itself, regretfully this time, no aircraft to watch, however some what of a light show with a demonstration of the runway lighting system.

The visit finale was tea and biscuits in the ATC crew room and a presentation by Flt Lt Palmer of a Harrier photo at low level signed by the remaining aircrew of 1 Squadron to our CFI.

Below: Flight Lieutenant Marcus Palmer presents John Sentence (CFI), with a framed Photo of a Harrier at low level, signed by the remaining aircrews of 1 (F) Squadron. The intention being that the signed framed print will take pride of place in the new club bar.

The Cottesmore MATZ has already been deactivated, although as Marcus briefed us that the ATZ will remain in place. Cottesmore is contracted to deliver The Lower Airspace Radar Service (LARS) until the end of March 2011, however this may be terminated early by the MOD.

It will be a very sad day indeed when Cottesmore finally closes its doors, and whilst a clump of airspace will be opened up, things just won’t seem the seem the same. Despite the bases closure, the premature scrapping of a type that was running though a nearly completed £500 million upgrade, our hosts hospitality and attitude was nothing short of excellent, we were made to feel very welcome indeed.

The final flight of the RAF/RN Harriers (other operators are expected to operate it for another decade) was on the 15th December, although RAF Cottesmore was deprived of an historic 16 ship diamond formation due to the weather. Hundreds of people ventured to the base from far a field to witness the final recovery of what many still see as a great British icon the Harrier, albeit not the Hawker Sidney one!

Thank you, to Flight Lieutenant M Palmer, ATC Squadron RAF Cottesmore, 1(F) Squadron.

Below: To celebrate the Harriers retirement, our hosts 1(F) Squadron painted one of their airframes in this special scheme. Here the Aircraft is seen returning for the last time from the HMS Ark Royal on the 24th November 2010, after the historic final launch of a British Harrier, from a British Warship.

All at Sea; As a result of the formation of JFH in 2000, all Squadrons whether they be RAF or RN, deployed aboard the Invincible Class Carriers. 1(F) Squadrons Flagship is here seen embarked aboard HMS Ark Royal, on the ships final visit to the Tyne in November 2010.

Below: The sun has all but set on JFH, with the Squadrons set to disband in January, the base will close as an RAF station at the end of March, from there it will be passed to MOD estates.