Harrier sale

Lets stay on topic.

Graham, I was about to write a diatribe about why the bankers are not the sole reason for our economy being in the mess it is, but it has nothing whatever to do with Harriers, and everything to do with politics and politicians. Thats not what we want to read on a Historic Aviation forum!

Bruce

So long as the ‘so valuable and precious city and bankers’ can carry on as business as usual it’s all worth it in the long run. Although they only concentrate in the short term.

Graham

The various suppliers of Harrier parts would still supply -the aircraft is still in service abroad and as long as they continue the parts can be made.

Rolls and the other manufacturers wouldn’t produce more Harrier parts because the MOD weren’t going to be buying any more…..not the other way round.

I don’t like the sound of the RAF presence in Afghanistan being extended but then ‘combat troops’ is a very flexible term as far as politicians are concerned.

Is that taking into account the announcement this week that the RAF will remain in Afganistan longer than they had previously thought, and that the Sentinal service life will be extended?
Still good drills to order more ‘copters, even if current situations are seen as drawing down, Libya shows what can be lurking unforseen around corners.

Personally I think the Harrier deal is an ok one, the Nimrod disposal deal was frankly shocking.
Spiteful, my understanding is that Rolls, and other part manufacturers, won’t produce any more Harrier stuff anyway (according to FWS here, that was one of the reasons for withdrawal), so negligable impact there, infact it will be interesting to see how long the USMC machines will be around for, even with the ex RAF frames being used.

…wouldn’t it have made sense to have swapped at least a few of them for some Chinooks for use by our guys out in the sand?

The government (current and last administration) is ordering more Chinooks…

…they should arrive in squadron service about a year after the last combat troops are pulled out of Afghanistan! :rolleyes:

You couldn’t make it up. 😡

I suspect the US will reduce a few of these to spares, so overall this deal will have further consequences to the UK in terms of displaced sales of new parts to companies such as RR for the engines etc. 😀

So they’ve sold a bunch of Harriers for a give away price, to the US…wouldn’t it have made sense to have swapped at least a few of them for some Chinooks for use by our guys out in the sand ?.

Does it really matter if they dont have the latest all singing all dancing glass cockpits and stuff as it would release those that are equipped to handle certain missions leaving the ‘swappers to do the more mundane taskings that have a lower security / safety requirement aspect. And everone knows about the chopper ‘shortfall’ on current operations !

Probably all to do with different budgets no doubt.

It’s a far better deal than if they were to cut them up, where some contractor would probably charge us £100m+

Given the current situation, I guess it’s the best available outcome.

Sadly I think you are right, although it does feel like elling the family jewels as lowest possible price.
I do not like a lot of moves this government has made as still think the scrapping of Nimrod and the retirement of the Harrier was a huge mistake.

To be fair some rebuilt warbirds are technically younger than the Tornados. Probably thinks that half the GR9a airframes are just old Kestrels that have bigger wings or something.

There’s at least one gate guardian but being left outside isn’t going to be good in the long term. Didn’t the JHF have around 90 odd on strength at the time of retirement and how many of those were hangar queens?

re;

The Defence minister clearly doesnt know what he is talking about – he thinks the Harrier GR9 is older than the Tornado GR!

Don’t get your hopes up too much … at this event at the end of September only 2 airframes were noted as going into preservation!

There were a load of them done up with the old WWII squadron codes (JX) and the wasp on the tail, hope they go to a good home. And as long as Duxford don’t do anything silly and stick theirs right up in the rafters like the GR3.

I read in ‘the other forum’ Harriers are earmarked for Duxford, Cosford, Hendon and Yeovilton, including the 1 sqn special tail. Of course, I wouldn’t want to vouch for the above being true but it’s nice to hope…

It’s a far better deal than if they were to cut them up, where some contractor would probably charge us £100m+

Given the current situation, I guess it’s the best available outcome.

At times like this winning £160m on the euro lottery would be handy. Still a stupid idea axing them. I fail to see how it is a great deal for anyone other than the yanks.