June 27, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Appreciate any comments on if any of the harrier/sea harrier family was ever considered for buddy refueling pods. One very experinced with the SHAR program told me they were never asked to trial it- that it was never a requirement. I also understand that fuel was drawn from the external tanks first and there was very limited ability to move fuel around, especially in the early FRS.1/GR/AVA8 family, so limited plumbing and maintaining CG may have been obstacles- but I do not know if these were show stoppers. It seems that the ability to top off another aircraft for increased range/loiter would have been a usefull capabilty- eg: extended CAP time in the Falklands. I do understand the centerline harpoint would be a non-starter, but perhaps a smaller pod (Super Etendard size) on the wing could have worked? Appreciate any comments on if it was ever proposed, trialed, potential obstacles, etc.