Visit to 899 NAS 28th February 2005

In the February 2005 edition of "Aircraft Illustrated" magazine there was an advertisement for a Photographer's Tour to RNAS Yeovilton on February 28th 2005, with the aim of photographing Sea Harriers from No 899 Naval Air Squadron, before that unit's demise at the end of March 2005.

I phoned the number given and, finding that the tour was not full, decided to go.

Eventually Sunday February 27th arrived and I made my way down to the Manor Hotel in Yeovil, and met up with the rest of the group. Gerry Manning from Ian Allan Tours was on hand, as well as Richard Cooper, the Deputy Editor of "Aircraft Illustrated" and Editor of "Combat Aircraft".

In the evening we were entertained by Lt Cdr Russ Eatwell, the Sea Harrier display pilot. He gave a very interesting presentation about the aircraft and its Pegasus engine.

The Pegasus is what makes the Harrier possible - its moveable nozzles give the aircraft its legendary V/STOL capability. Control of the aircraft when the engine is providing lift was discussed in detail, as were the problems of hovering with wind coming at the aircraft from an angle. The use of water to cool the turbine blades is a feature which can give vital extra thrust in the hover, especially in high temperature conditions. What FOD does to the engine was also explained.

Something that I was not aware of was that if necessary the pilot can override all the limiters on the Pegasus to get 108% of rated thrust - but at the cost of severely shortening the engine's life.

Cdr Eatwell obviously enjoyed flying the aircraft, but he said that after 25 years of service the airframe is showing its age (it is mainly 1960s technology, of course). With 35 maintenance hours required per flight hour, it is an expensive aircraft to operate.

He was less complimentary about the F-35B STOVL Joint Strike Fighter, calling it the "Advent Calendar" because 24 doors have to open before it can hover!

The following morning it was an early (and cold) start. We were at Yeovilton's West Gate at about 08:45. The coach took us to 899 squadron's office building on the south side of the runway. Our host was Major Jim Dresner RM, the senior pilot on the squadron. He'd been a helicopter pilot in the Marines before moving to fast jets.

He gave a short presentation on the aircraft before we were split into two groups. I was in the group touring the hangar. The others went to the Historic Aircraft hanger first.

In the hanger were three Jetstream T.3s (ZE438, ZE439 and ZE441), Sea Harrier FA.2s ZE690 and ZE692 which were undergoing maintenance, ZH800/713, XZ440 with access platforms for us, and T.8 ZB604/722.

On the ramp were FA.2s ZE692/712, ZH812/716, ZH809, ZH802/711 and ZD579/R715, plus T.8s ZB603/724, ZD990/721 and ZD993/723. Also there were two FRADU Hawks, XX224 and XX226.

ZH809 and ZB603 started engines and took off. ZH800 was towed across the airfield, and returned later, but it didn't fly at all. Next to take off was ZH812/716.

The ski jump was out of use, but it proved very useful as a viewing platform.

Jetstream T.2 XX481/CU560 arrived at 10:50 and departed at 11:01.

By about 11:05 it was snowing quite heavily, and I was glad of the extra layers I'd got on.

We returned to the crew room at 11:30 for hot drinks. At midday the group which had done the hanger first went to the Historic Aircraft hanger. Present were Chipmunks WK608 and WB657, Sea Hawk WV908 and Gannet VR930. On the fire dump were Harrier T.4 ZB601, Harrier GR.3 XV755 and another unmarked GR.3. On another dump were Sea Hawks WV903 and XR339.

We returned to the squadron at 12:30 and had lunch in the "Shar Diner", which was pretty good.

We were out on the ramp again at 13:30, where ZE692/712 had been pulled out of the hangar and was being prepared for launch.

FA.2 ZH802/711 and T.8 ZB603/724 got airborne together at 14:32. ZH802 returned and did some vertical maneuvering over Charlie pad. ZE692 got airborne at 14:50. At 15:04 the JP, a FA.2 (ZD579) and a T.8 (ZB603) came past in formation.

Some of us (including me) were allowed to go down to the mobile control tower at the eastern end of runway 27 and were rewarded with some really close-up views of ZD579. This was the last aircraft we saw landing at 15:40, although ZE692 was still out there somewhere.

We returned to the crew room where various things were on sale to support the 899 Decommissioning Ball and a local charity. I bought a signed squadron print, a bottle of commemerative champagne and a patch. As the squadron was to decommission on March 23rd, all pictures etc on the walls were up for grabs (and a donation to charity). I contented myself with a photo of XZ494 in its FRS.1 days for a fiver.

By now it was 16:30, and time to go. We thanked our hosts for a memorable day out and got the coach back to Yeovil, and home.