Jaguar in Australian register

A surprising thing happened on 28 October 2021, when a SEPECAT Jaguar T4 was taken up in the Australian civil register as VH-UXB. The trainer (c/n B29) used to fly in the Royal Air Force as XX841 ‘EW’. According to the Scramble database the Jaguar has been stored at North Weald since September 2018.

XX841 was allegedly owned by the local "Gnat Display Team" group. The plan was to restore it to flight condition and it seems it was already planned to be registered in Australia, even though it would still be based at North Weald.

The move to the Australian register could have been a sidestep to avoid strict EASA regulations for operating supersonic jets. But this now no longer seems to be logical since the UK exited EASA as part of Brexit.

VH-UXB is now (on paper) owned by Miltek Aviation PTY, Ltd of Carrum Downs (VIC), Australia. This firm is not only the owner but also recorded as the operator of the Jaguar. Will it ever fly in Australian skies? Who knows!

Source: Mil Spotters Forum
Photo: Chris Lofting via AirHistory.net