On 4th November the three Harriers with 41 (Test & Evaluation) Squadron were moved from RAF Coningsby to RAF Cottesmore when they were within four days of flying the final Harrier systems update, Capability EB, an advanced airborne datalink. Wg Cdr Rich Davies, OC of 41(T&E) Sqn, when asked why he thought the Harrier was being withdrawn is reported to have said “I wouldn’t like to comment - but if it is capability based, you couldn’t get a better platform for the role it was operating in the RAF.” And that from a Tornado pilot.
Ark Royal left Portsmouth on a farewell cruise on 9th November to Glen Mallon, near Glasgow, for de-arming, then on to Newcastle where she was built. Just before docking four Harrier GR9As made the type’s last ever landings on a Royal Navy carrier. The pilots were Wg Cdr Dave Haines and Sq Ldr Chris Cartwell of RAF No 1(F) Sqn, and Lt Chris Roy and Flt Lt Richard Heap of the Naval Strike Wing, Richard Heap being the last to land.
Leaving Newcastle on 22nd November the four Harriers departed for RAF Cottesmore on the 24th while the ship headed for Hamburg, returning to Portsmouth on 3rd December. The last pilot to fly off Ark Royal was Lt Cdr James Blackmore.
The 15th December was the date of the final flights of RAF-RN Joint Force Harrier aircraft. Sixteen took off from RAF Cottesmore to fly over Marham, Wyton, Wittering, Stamford, Cranwell, Waddington, Scampton and Oakham, making their final landings back at Cottesmore - and into storage with the other 63 aircraft.
The 13 single seat and 3 two seat Harriers were led by ZG506
painted in the original GRMk1 dark grey/green/pale grey camouflage
scheme and carrying beside the cockpit the names of the first and last
COs; AVM G Black and Gp Capt GM Waterfall, and on the fin 1960 - 2010.
Three other Harriers had special fin markings: ZD351 in 800 NAS
1980-2010 livery, ZD477 in 1 Sqn 1969-2010 livery and ZG858 in IVR Sqn
1970-2010 livery.