In 1982 I was a schoolboy living in the Somerset countryside. On my birthday that year, my Dad mysteriously ushered me outside. A few minutes later, an RAF Jaguar tore right over our heads. It then put on brief but highly impressive low-level display directlyabove our house, before rocking its wings and departing. My godfather was John Thomson, Station Commander of RAF Brüggen in West Germany, which housed four Sqns of Jaguars, and this was his birthday present to me. A few days later, a big brown envelope arrived in the post. In it was a birthday card from John and several A4-sized black and white photos of me and my family outside our house that day, looking up.
@@DaveArguesback Thank you. I was indeed very lucky. My dad's no longer with us, but cool is about right, since he flew Lightnings with 19 Sqn at Gütersloh in the 60s.
@Maxley.. wow, I've been there ,I'm in a 1% motorcycle club, and we met a side patch club based there called harley dangerous , its only a small place if I'm right ✅️
@Maxley.. gutersloe ?? I've been there ,I'm in a 1% motorcycle club, warlocks mc we met up with a side patch club there called highly dangerous ,its only a small place if I'm right
I've just dug out my ( old ) copy of Ian Allan's "Modern Combat Aircraft No. 14, the SEPECAT Jaguar" written by Arthur Reed, which records that the French Jaguar's A & E stood for Appui tactique, (tactical support) & E for Ecole (trainer), the M was for Marine, (Maritime) & the British S & B stood for Strike & Bi. (Two seater). Whilst in the RAF & based at Lossiemouth in the late eighties, I was on the opposite side of the runway from 226, (the RAF's Jag OCU), on 237 (Buccaneer) OCU. I've always liked the look of the Jag but, sadly, never got to work on them. I was always nervous when the Jag "advanced" courses started taking off with two full underwing "jugs" & four concrete "thousand pounders", seeing them disappear over the hump of the main runway, (heading south west), & eventually struggling into the air, (& into sight), in full afterburner. As some joker once said, "fully loaded they only got into the air due to the curvature of the earth !" At that stage of their life the Jag's definitely needed a bit more poke ! ( Which they eventually got, much to the relief of the aircrew, no doubt ). Well put together wee video. I'll have to watch some more of yours. Kind regards. 😄
I remember the trials we did with the overwing pylons for defensive sidewinders, they vibrated like crazy and one pilot I knew in the Gulf wanted to fire his stores just to get rid of the vibes !
One Jaguar was modified with extensions to the leading edge bringing the centre of pressure forward to make the aircraft less stable. The PFCU´s were replaced with FBW ones to explore how FBW systems in conjunction with unstable airframes could improve manoeuvrability. This aircraft spent a great deal of it`s life undergoing testing at BAe Warton.
I dont really know why the Jaguar is called a "game changer" and it was not built as a trainer. It was built as an attack aircraft with supersonic capability. carrying just Sidewinder it could reach Mach 1.6 at 36,000ft. It was sub sonic carrying a modest 4,000 kg weapons load. It was the butt of many RAF jokes mainly due to the low power Adour engines, both with full afterburner onlt gave 14,000 lbs of thrust!
I worked withy the 2 Jag squadrons & 226 OCU at RAF Lossiemouth for a few years when I was there between 1977 & 1986 as well as the Buccaneers & Shacletons. I also did a bit of time with the Royal Navy 849 B flight Gannets & Sea Kings plus a load of other units within RAF Lossie.
Great jet to work on for Riggers (airframes) I worked on Harriers for most of my RAF career, often working the night through and handing over the keys to the day shift. On Jags (54 (f) Sqn) if riggers weren't down to trade cover by 20:00 it was a bad night. Jacking a Jag was a bit scary for the chap on the nose jack because of the trailing linkage on the main gear, when raising the jet the main undercarriage would try to push forward, this meant the chap on the nose jack was continually having to adjust the jack legs. On at least one occasion the nose jack punched a hole in the aircraft nose because it slipped off the jack point.
I agree, i was a Rigger on 31squadron at Bruggen, we did not have a night shift on Friday, as the squadron finished flying at lunchtime. Even with having to weekend load, most guys were in the bar before seven. I remember on one night shift we jacked up the aircraft outside of the HAS, I think for something the leckies wanted. went for a cuppa, came back dropped the aircraft down and pushed it back into the HAZ, and were on the way home, by the time we got back to the crew room we were the last to leave.
One of my favourite attack aircraft - never seems to get much credit however. I loved how it looked with what is certainly my favourite undercarriage design of all combat jets. I wonder how French pilots who had experience in both aircraft compared the Jaguar A with the Super Entendards. Could the type M have turned out to be a better aircraft?
Were the Jaguars retired from RAF prematurely? I’ve heard of the engines providing inadequate thrust in hot weather but that could have been fixed with an engine upgrade (say Adour 951). Thank you for this detailed video. Totally enjoying the posts by veteran Jaguar crew!
I spent most of my childhood living pretty much next to RAF Coltishall (pronounced with a "sh" sound), and remember seeing the Jaguars, in pink desert camo, flying off to the Gulf in 1990, and the triumphant return in 1991. We often walked along the old railway line (now a shared narrow gauge railway and footpath) that ran by the end of the runway, and many times as a lad I've looked up to see the underside of a Jaguar either coming in to land with gear down, or screaming overhead with full reheat on takeoff.
Was it only the lower spec versions or the Sierras too which had such underpowered engines they couldn't sustain level flight on just one engine? It would certainly make the French Navy decision to go with single engine Super Etendards more understandable. Separately, Dassault's wider behaviour shows the risks of partnerships with dodgy dealers
Any sooties or jockeys out there can explain why the RAF Jaguar needed reheat for take off, (a mandatory call from the caravan if not engaged) whilst the French version didn't?
*A flawed concept resulted in this plane being manufactured & replacing the Bucaneer. During the Iraq war it was shot out of the sky by Iraqi defences, resulting in it being withdrawn during the war & being replaced by the Bucaneer. So much for it being a great plane.
Sorry but wrong. The RAF Jag's replaced FGR2 Phantoms that replaced (most of) the Lightnings in the UK & RAFG. The two RAF Germany Bucc Squadrons, (XV & 16. Or is it XVI), that were based at Laarbruch for tactical nuclear strike were replaced by Tornado GR1's. From what I've read elsewhere the Jag's were outstanding during "Gulf War 1". Very reliable & successfully (accurately) did what was asked of them, hence why the RAF kept updating them & hung onto them for a good while longer !
What a convoluted history. Advanced trainer then to ground attack. Then needing to build a new advanced trainer. How did the Jaguar compare to other aircraft of the period? Why 2 engines when many other similar aircraft had one? Range, payload, initial cost and manhours maintenance per flight hour. Super Entenard, F5, A8, Skyhawk, Hawk. What did the Swed’s have? In the period for it had a relatively small production run due to limited overseas sales. If it had been a better aircraft it would have been in production another decade.
@craigs71 underpowered crap. Indians bought it because that generation was clueless and believed everything Britain said 😆. Currently, a bunch at RAF Cosford for training mechs (which in itself is blunder).
In 1982 I was a schoolboy living in the Somerset countryside. On my birthday that year, my Dad mysteriously ushered me outside. A few minutes later, an RAF Jaguar tore right over our heads. It then put on brief but highly impressive low-level display directlyabove our house, before rocking its wings and departing.
My godfather was John Thomson, Station Commander of RAF Brüggen in West Germany, which housed four Sqns of Jaguars, and this was his birthday present to me.
A few days later, a big brown envelope arrived in the post. In it was a birthday card from John and several A4-sized black and white photos of me and my family outside our house that day, looking up.
A superb story. Luck young man.
I don't think such a jolly would be sanctioned today.
Awesome ,you were a very lucky school boy and your dad sounds cool 😎
@@DaveArguesback Thank you. I was indeed very lucky. My dad's no longer with us, but cool is about right, since he flew Lightnings with 19 Sqn at Gütersloh in the 60s.
@Maxley.. wow, I've been there ,I'm in a 1% motorcycle club, and we met a side patch club based there called harley dangerous , its only a small place if I'm right ✅️
@Maxley.. gutersloe ?? I've been there ,I'm in a 1% motorcycle club, warlocks mc we met up with a side patch club there called highly dangerous ,its only a small place if I'm right
I've just dug out my ( old ) copy of Ian Allan's "Modern Combat Aircraft No. 14, the SEPECAT Jaguar" written by Arthur Reed, which records that the French Jaguar's A & E stood for Appui tactique, (tactical support) & E for Ecole (trainer), the M was for Marine, (Maritime) & the British S & B stood for Strike & Bi. (Two seater). Whilst in the RAF & based at Lossiemouth in the late eighties, I was on the opposite side of the runway from 226, (the RAF's Jag OCU), on 237 (Buccaneer) OCU. I've always liked the look of the Jag but, sadly, never got to work on them. I was always nervous when the Jag "advanced" courses started taking off with two full underwing "jugs" & four concrete "thousand pounders", seeing them disappear over the hump of the main runway, (heading south west), & eventually struggling into the air, (& into sight), in full afterburner. As some joker once said, "fully loaded they only got into the air due to the curvature of the earth !"
At that stage of their life the Jag's definitely needed a bit more poke ! ( Which they eventually got, much to the relief of the aircrew, no doubt ).
Well put together wee video. I'll have to watch some more of yours. Kind regards. 😄
I remember the trials we did with the overwing pylons for defensive sidewinders, they vibrated like crazy and one pilot I knew in the Gulf wanted to fire his stores just to get rid of the vibes !
Is that true my friend or one of the many myths surrounding the type.
One Jaguar was modified with extensions to the leading edge bringing the centre of pressure forward to make the aircraft less stable. The PFCU´s were replaced with FBW ones to explore how FBW systems in conjunction with unstable airframes could improve manoeuvrability. This aircraft spent a great deal of it`s life undergoing testing at BAe Warton.
And after that at Boscombe Down
I dont really know why the Jaguar is called a "game changer" and it was not built as a trainer. It was built as an attack aircraft with supersonic capability. carrying just Sidewinder it could reach Mach 1.6 at 36,000ft. It was sub sonic carrying a modest 4,000 kg weapons load. It was the butt of many RAF jokes mainly due to the low power Adour engines, both with full afterburner onlt gave 14,000 lbs of thrust!
I was ground crew on 41sqn photo recce in the 80s, good memories, thanks.
I worked withy the 2 Jag squadrons & 226 OCU at RAF Lossiemouth for a few years when I was there between 1977 & 1986 as well as the Buccaneers & Shacletons. I also did a bit of time with the Royal Navy 849 B flight Gannets & Sea Kings plus a load of other units within RAF Lossie.
One of my favorite aircraft...
Great jet to work on for Riggers (airframes) I worked on Harriers for most of my RAF career, often working the night through and handing over the keys to the day shift. On Jags (54 (f) Sqn) if riggers weren't down to trade cover by 20:00 it was a bad night. Jacking a Jag was a bit scary for the chap on the nose jack because of the trailing linkage on the main gear, when raising the jet the main undercarriage would try to push forward, this meant the chap on the nose jack was continually having to adjust the jack legs. On at least one occasion the nose jack punched a hole in the aircraft nose because it slipped off the jack point.
I agree, i was a Rigger on 31squadron at Bruggen, we did not have a night shift on Friday, as the squadron finished flying at lunchtime. Even with having to weekend load, most guys were in the bar before seven. I remember on one night shift we jacked up the aircraft outside of the HAS, I think for something the leckies wanted. went for a cuppa, came back dropped the aircraft down and pushed it back into the HAZ, and were on the way home, by the time we got back to the crew room we were the last to leave.
@@davegoldsmith4020 Goldstar Sqn.
One of my favourite attack aircraft - never seems to get much credit however. I loved how it looked with what is certainly my favourite undercarriage design of all combat jets.
I wonder how French pilots who had experience in both aircraft compared the Jaguar A with the Super Entendards. Could the type M have turned out to be a better aircraft?
Were the Jaguars retired from RAF prematurely? I’ve heard of the engines providing inadequate thrust in hot weather but that could have been fixed with an engine upgrade (say Adour 951). Thank you for this detailed video. Totally enjoying the posts by veteran Jaguar crew!
When the British and French get together wonderful things can happen - Jaguar/Concorde!🤓
I spent most of my childhood living pretty much next to RAF Coltishall (pronounced with a "sh" sound), and remember seeing the Jaguars, in pink desert camo, flying off to the Gulf in 1990, and the triumphant return in 1991. We often walked along the old railway line (now a shared narrow gauge railway and footpath) that ran by the end of the runway, and many times as a lad I've looked up to see the underside of a Jaguar either coming in to land with gear down, or screaming overhead with full reheat on takeoff.
Great story..thanks.
"The French, having learned from the costly TSR.2 project" Wait, what ? We had no part in that, we had our own costly programs, thank you very much.
You can still learn from someone else’s failure.
@@DarkRenditionyes, better to learn from others mistakes than your own
Lovely aircraft.
There was a similar Japanese aircraft called Mitsubishi F-1 for close support role.
Was it only the lower spec versions or the Sierras too which had such underpowered engines they couldn't sustain level flight on just one engine?
It would certainly make the French Navy decision to go with single engine Super Etendards more understandable.
Separately, Dassault's wider behaviour shows the risks of partnerships with dodgy dealers
Any sooties or jockeys out there can explain why the RAF Jaguar needed reheat for take off, (a mandatory call from the caravan if not engaged) whilst the French version didn't?
Interesting...
I had no idea that "sepecat" was a French acronym
Cool plane, never knew it was so problematic though.
I prefer the Septic Cat name. I think from RAF Luton.
The music is very distracting.
No radar
*A flawed concept resulted in this plane being manufactured & replacing the Bucaneer. During the Iraq war it was shot out of the sky by Iraqi defences, resulting in it being withdrawn during the war & being replaced by the Bucaneer. So much for it being a great plane.
What a load of old bollocks! If you can't post sensible and factual comments, then stay off the site.
@@tonyhaynes9080 You don't like the truth & believe in "Shoot the messenger". Understandable.
Sorry but wrong. The RAF Jag's replaced FGR2 Phantoms that replaced (most of) the Lightnings in the UK & RAFG. The two RAF Germany Bucc Squadrons,
(XV & 16. Or is it XVI), that were based at Laarbruch for tactical nuclear strike were replaced by Tornado GR1's. From what I've read elsewhere the Jag's were outstanding
during "Gulf War 1". Very reliable & successfully (accurately) did what was asked of them, hence why the RAF kept updating them & hung onto them for a good while longer !
What a convoluted history. Advanced trainer then to ground attack. Then needing to build a new advanced trainer. How did the Jaguar compare to other aircraft of the period? Why 2 engines when many other similar aircraft had one? Range, payload, initial cost and manhours maintenance per flight hour. Super Entenard, F5, A8, Skyhawk, Hawk. What did the Swed’s have? In the period for it had a relatively small production run due to limited overseas sales. If it had been a better aircraft it would have been in production another decade.
No Jaguars were lost in the Gulf War.
One of the worst aircraft ever made.
Not a fan then?
@@SnoopReddogg To be fair I have heard this before but never got the bottom of the reasoning behind the statement.
@craigs71 underpowered crap. Indians bought it because that generation was clueless and believed everything Britain said 😆.
Currently, a bunch at RAF Cosford for training mechs (which in itself is blunder).
I guess that you never flew or had a flight in one then, huh?
That would be a valid opinion if you had flown every plane ever built.
the fkn noisy bstd
Quiet when compared to the Tornado
@@mothmagic1 Not when your "Line Hut"' is practically next to the main runway threshold they're not, LOL. ( I'm an ex Lossie' 237 OCU "Liney" ).
They can fly so low, you can't imagine...I have seen Indian pilots doing same..