Hi Bryan
The Jaguar fleet should of been grounded years ago apart from being to
old in the 1st gulf war they have been held together with chewing gum and
double sided sticky tape (kindly donated by Blue peter) the airframe its self was at an
operational end. The squadrons that operated the jaguar are being converted for the typhoon
as that is what is replacing them.
The harriers have NOT been stripped from the navy to bolster the RAF.
What has happend is the same as the helicopters they are coming under a joint
command structure, where as in the case of helicopters everyone is trained together then
army fly army, Navy:Navy etc
The sea Harriers were binned and the Fleet Air arm Pilots fly RAF harriers and the RAF Pilots
are now trained to operate from carriers. The reasoning is the when the JSF arrives it will
be cost effective for all crews to operate from 1 base and trained on 1 aircraft and every one can
operate from any where. The biggest problem is the the Fleet does not have a dedicated air to air interceptor
the RAF harrier doesn't have an inboard combat radar that was the big difference with the sea harrier it was upgraded
with a radar specifically for this reason.
there are VC10's left but will be replaced soon with the new airbus disaster
what was it you were asking about the Hercules but they are still there and operating
If you want anymore RAF questions answered ask away

Colin