"Farewell"

by Brian Fare

'FAREWELL'
BAE Harrier GR7 ZD407 '36'
20(R) Squadron, Royal Air Force Wittering

Aviation Fine Art, Litho Print



As a result of the current Planning Round within MoD, there has been a recent Ministerial announcement to reduce the size of Joint Force Harrier and relocate to RAF Wittering. The unfortunate and immediate impact is for No 20(R) Squadron to disband on 31st March 2010 after 18 years service as the OCU. No IV(Army Co-operation) Squadron will change it's role from a Front Line squadron to that of the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit on 31st March 2010 and will be known as No 4(Reserve) Squadron.

The first Harriers entered RAF service in 1969, making the RAF the first in the world to use its revolutionary vertical take-off and landing abilities, which allow the aircraft to fly in and out of areas close to the battlefield that would normally be off-limits to conventional aircraft such as the Tornado. As part of the cuts above, the reduction in fleet size will also see the retirement of the GR7 and T10 variants of the Harrier, leaving only the GR9/9A and T12 variants in service.

The Aircraft depicted in this print is Harrier GR7 (ZD407 '36') which was the display aircraft of 20 (R) Squadron, RAF Wittering and was painted with a special colour scheme that adorned the fin. .


Open edition printed on 300 gsm archival quality, acid free white board using lightfast inks.



Overall Print size: 297mm x 420mm