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Harrier GR3 XV804 still proudly wears its 4 Squadron marks, now just up the road at Cottesmore of course
Nose job, anyone?
This appears to be a Sea Vixen nosecone, probably left from the late '80s when three were present.
Dead Sparrows
Dead Sparrows, anyone?
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At least two Bloodhound missiles can be found, but we didn't test the warheads...

Rutland Relics Revisited

Following our article last year on the weary airframes to be found at a bleak North Luffenham airfield, a return visit on 13 March gave us the opportunity to find one or two more relics...

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First to be found is Hunter FGA9 XG194 in its pseudo MiG scheme.
Newest incumbent Phantom FGR2 XT905 stills proudly wears the Tiger emblem of 74 Squadron but has recently lost her starboard outer wing.
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First Jet Provost encountered, XP686/8401M/8502M, sits near the Phantom. A T4, it spent many years with No. 1 SoTT at Halton before arriving at North Luffenham.
Next is XP629/9026M, a previous incumbent of the CATCS at Shawbury, now occupying one of the redundant Thor missile sites.
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Sharing the Thor complex with XP629 is XN554/8436M, a T3 previously with No. 1 SoTT at Halton.
On the adjacent Thor complex sits XN579/9137M, a T3A that was with 1 FTS at Linton-on-Ouse until the late '80s when replaced by the Tucano.
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With XN579 sits XS186/8408M, another T4 from No. 1 SoTT, Halton. It is rather optimistically laid out with Sparrows, as if on QRA!
Relatively intact is Harrier GR3 XV804, still in its 4 Squadron marks from its time with the RAFG at Gutersloh.
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One airframe rarely seen is Whirlwind HAR10 XP344/8764M, which is dumped near a small copse on the edge of the airfield. It carries French roundels and a pseudo Belgian serial H-723 and has obviously seen better days...

 

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