Harrier Flypast - Stamford

[mike_j]

Well we all gathered to say farewell, fond or otherwise, to the Harrier aircraft that have been thundering around our skies for the past 25 years or so. A formation of 16 were promised at 13:27, or perhaps not. Local paper newsroom couldn't say - between now and 3:00pm was their estimate. Someone thought there was a 30 minute delay, then someone else got a phone message that they had taken off. Cold, miserable weather but we stood there, many bowed double under the weight Canikons with huge lenses. We saw a helicopter, thought we heard some jet noise but still nothing. Much talk of brass monkeys and warm pubs. Finally another phone message from someone at Cottesmore - flypast called off so all we had to show was a few pictures of the local pigeons in tight formation.

[Ian]

Re: Harrier Flypast - Stamford

Bad luck! I watched the final return of the 16 Harriers live on TV. Reminded me very much of the last flights of the BA Concordes a few years ago. I went down to Heathrow and joined the crowds at the end of one of the runways to see them fly in and out.

Ian