DCAE Cosford; 15 Jul 08

RAF Cosford is home to the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering (DCAE). The role of the DCAE is to provide training in aircraft maintenance techniques to personnel from all 3 branches of the UK armed forces, and also other nations on a contract basis. In order to provide this training, the DCAE maintains a large fleet of retired aircraft, predominately ex-RAF Jaguars and Jet Provosts. These aircraft enable trainees to become familiar with working on complex aircraft types, to help prepare them for assignments to front-line units.

Our visit to DCAE began in one of the hangars used to store training airframes. This first hangar was home to a variety of types, incluing a Harrier GR3, a pair of Tornado GR1s, various Jaguars and a Sea King. Also of interest were 2 Gazelles, one of which carried the colour scheme used by aircraft operated by the BATUS (British Army Training Unit Suffield) in Canada.

After a look around the hangar, we went outside to see something a bit special. From time to time, the engines and systems are powered up on some of the training airframes. Knowing we were visiting, the staff very kindly changed the day that they planned to power up one of the recently retired Jaguars. In fact, to our delight, this was the ex-6 Sqn special, the famous "Spotty Jag", delivered to Cosford by Wg Cdr John Sullivan, as the last Jaguar flight in RAF service.

After a series of checks form the ground crew, the aircraft came to life, with the familiar low rumble of the Rolls Royce Adour engines bringing back memories of past visits to Coltishall and Coningsby.

Also outside were several other ex-6 Sqn aircraft, delivered just over a year ago as the Jaguar force wound down.

Moving on to the next hangar, and more Jaguars. The aircraft in this hangar are long term residents -Jaguar GR1s retired from RAF Germany with the introduction of the Tornado. The wear nostalgic green and grey wrap around camouflage, and many carry badges of squadrons which now operate more modern types, such as 14 (Tornado GR4), 20 (Harrier OCU) and 17 (Typhoon OEU) Sqns. Also in the hangar are a pair of Jet Provosts. Many of the aircraft now carry the crest of 238 Sqn, which is the indentity recently adopted by the DCAE for its training fleet.

Moving on to the next hangar, and yet more Jaguar GR1s! Of particular interest was an ex-6 Sqn GR1, and another recently retired GR3, painted in desert 'pink', to represent the contribution of the Jaguar force to Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

Outside this hangar was an engineless Harrier, apparently a GR7, but carrying a GR5 nose and other panels.

The final stop on our tour was the DCAE's new facility on the camp-side of RAF Cosford, away from the airfield. It is here that most of the ex-6 Sqn Jaguar GR3s can be found, along with a collection of other types. Also in the school are several new, high-tech maintenance simulators for the Typhoon.

With thanks to ... and ... and all at DCAE who were such gracious hosts.

BACK to Military Index