This Sea Harrier took off from from the deck of HMS Illustrious back in ’86, as she hit the ramp the ship jolted resulting in the starboard outrigger being ripped off, after burning fuel and some head scratching it was decided that mattresses would be lashed to the deck in the hope that she would rest the starboard wing onto them, thus preventing further damage.
From memory she was an 800 Squadron aircraft.
On approach to the deck
On the deck having missed the mattresses
Hope they are of interest
Russ
By: Arabella-Cox - 27th January 2011 at 18:47
SHAR Ship strikes
After the photos and story about the SHar on the Spanish freighter I wonder what other tales are waiting to be redisovered
Indeed, I would like to learn more about two Sea Harrier losses involving ship strikes:
XZ454 struck top of ski-ramp during flypast of Invincible, 01 December 1980
ZA191 struck ship mast during flypast of Ark Royal, 15 October 1987
Any accident reports, insights, sea stories?
Thanks for the photos Russ.
By: inkworm - 18th January 2011 at 08:38
After the photos and story about the SHar on the Spanish freighter I wonder what other tales are waiting to be redisovered
By: horge - 18th January 2011 at 04:34
Fascinating story, and great pictures.
Thanks for sharing.
By: Grim901 - 17th January 2011 at 22:25
Great photos, interesting story. Do you have anymore information on the damage after it missed the mattresses? It doesn’t look too severe in the photo.
And why weren’t the weapons or tanks jettisoned before they attempted a landing? Surely that’d be the first thing you’d do if you were afraid of doing an emergency landing with all that weight on one wing.
By: roberto_yeager - 17th January 2011 at 20:02
Very interesting!!
Thanks
1Saludo
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January 17, 2011 at 6:51 pm