Thursday 20th December was a historic day for aviation enthusiasts as XX833, which for the past six months was the only flying UK military registered Jaguar left in service, took its last flight, marking the end of an era for Jaguar flying in UK – the last of the RAF’s Jaguars were themselves all retired this Summer.

The QinetiQ owned Jaguar T Mk 2A, (XX833), which is operated in conjunction with the MOD as part of the Aircraft Test and Evaluation Centre (ATEC)* operation, was undertaking trials flights after which the airframe went out of hours. It was piloted by Sqn Ldr Andy Blythe, and accompanied by Wg Cdr Paul Shakespeare, both from the Fast Jet Test Squadron (FJTS), based at MOD Boscombe Down.

Courtesy Qinetiq