HS Harrier GR.3 XZ865 is on show within the Beihang University Collection in Beijing. According to my information (from FlyPast 1/1997) the machine was at the Imperial War Museum until shipped to Beijing and was swapped against a redundant exhibit from the Beijing Collection.
Can anybody confirm this – and what did the IWM (if it really was the owner of XZ865 at the time) get in return?
The following photo of the aircraft in question is from March 2001.
Thanks and regards
Thomas
By: Flanker_man - 7th January 2013 at 15:33
(The Datangshan museums, however, has a nice-looking La-9 on show!)
Thomas
There’s a Lavochkin La-11 in the new display building at XiaoTangShan – I took this photo in November 2010….
In a Chinese-language book I purchased in the small souvenir shop on the same visit, there are photos of a La-9 ‘Fritz’ and a La-11 ‘Fang’, both displayed in the ‘cavern’ – obviously in earlier times.
Ken
By: David Burke - 6th January 2013 at 21:26
I must have spoken to Mark on a different day as I believe he said his dad wanted a airworthy Meteor ! Either way its sad to think both of them are now memories!
By: Mike J - 6th January 2013 at 21:20
According to Mark at the time, the F8 was originally for the China deal.
By: David Burke - 6th January 2013 at 20:17
The Rochester Meteor F.8 was acquired as a potential swop for an F.8 that could be made airworthy for the OFMC. The IWM example was mooted but the deal didn’t happen. The Harrier was selected for the swop by the Chinese.
By: Mike J - 6th January 2013 at 19:56
Has the La9 flown in the USA at all?
The last I heard,it was still stored with the wings off.
By: pagen01 - 6th January 2013 at 19:46
Some swap! The Crown Jewels for a Ratners ring 🙂 (sorry Harrier fans)
And there was me thinking the complete opposite!
By: Avro Avian - 6th January 2013 at 19:42
Has the La9 flown in the USA at all?
By: Good Vibs - 6th January 2013 at 19:29
La9…greatflyer
Whatever…a great swap.
The Performance of the Lavochkin at the Flying Legends was an eye opener.
Too bad it could not stay.
Jerry Yagen has a fantastic collection, my friends and I are planning a visit at his next airshow in Virginia.
By: Mike J - 6th January 2013 at 19:17
The original plan I believe was for a Meteor to go to China, hence the OFMC acquisition of the ex-gate guard F8 that sat in the corner of their hangar for a few years. It later evolved into a Harrier for Lavochkin swap.
Did the Kermit Weeks La come from the same source in China, I can never remember?
By: David Burke - 6th January 2013 at 18:13
Mark Hanna acquired a stripped fuselage initially which was stored at Duxford. When the RAF put the better machine up for disposal he ws quick to snap it up . In conversation with him the reasoning given for the wish to have a Harrier was because it was a interesting and well known type.
By: Yak 11 Fan - 6th January 2013 at 17:53
There were pictures in one of the old Warbirds Worldwide Macs of the La9 and La11 on show together. The La9 came out of China in 95/96 ish.
By: tdl - 6th January 2013 at 17:12
Dear David et al.
Thanks for the information.
Strange that the Beijing Aviation Collection swapped a La-9 for the Harrier – because the only Lavochkin on show was a La-11 version:
(The Datangshan museums, however, has a nice-looking La-9 on show!)
Thomas
By: Avro Avian - 6th January 2013 at 15:30
The Lavochkin is now with Jerry Yagen in the USA…
By: Seafuryfan - 6th January 2013 at 15:26
Some swap! The Crown Jewels for a Ratners ring 🙂 (sorry Harrier fans)
By: David Burke - 6th January 2013 at 12:54
It wasn’t part of the IWM. It was obtained by Mark Hanna and swapped for the Lavochkin that now flies in New Zealand.
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January 6, 2013 at 12:39 pm