Sepecat Jaguar GR1A, XZ357 / S-124, Royal Air Force
This picture is © Martin Laycock and may not be used or published without permission.
Registration: XZ357
Construction Number: S-124
Code Number: FK
Military Unit: 41 Squadron
Model Sepecat Jaguar GR1A
Operator: Royal Air Force
Airport: RAF Fairford (FFD / EGVA), UK - England
Airshow: Fairford - IAT - 1993
Photographer: Martin Laycock
Date Taken: 24/07/1993
Date Submitted: 15/06/2010
Photographed in the static display at IAT93 this Jag is from 41 Squadron based at RAF Coltishall. She made her first flight on the 17th June 1976 and was delivered to the RAF on the 16th July. After retirement from service she was sent to DARA St. Athan for spares recovery before being acquired by Everett Aero, at Bentwaters, Suffolk on the 27th October 2005. She was then sold to the PS Aero Collection in the Netherlands and is preserved at Kessel. 41 Squadron played a valuable part in the first Gulf war (Operation Granby) and on operations over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Jaguar was very cost effectively upgraded towards the end of its service life, some saying that it was in fact the most cost effective of all the RAF's fast jet force. Unfortunately, demands by the UK Treasury to cut the defence budget, led to the types (premature in my opinion) retirement from RAF service in April 2007.
Picture ID:1238020