During an preservation/display ‘industry ‘ gathering today, a brief mention was made of the operation at St Athan presently working on a brace of Harriers, and a first flight could be in prospect this year. Reportedly the attitude of the CAA has been ‘surprisingly encouraging’ .
We can only hope..
By: 8674planes - 27th April 2022 at 17:17
Mistake on my part, it’s ZH803
By: JagRigger - 27th April 2022 at 13:14
ZH805 crashed 2003
By: 8674planes - 24th April 2022 at 16:47
The jets will be Sea Harrier FA2 ZH805/G-RNFA and Harrier T8 ZD990/G-RNTB
By: 1batfastard - 23rd April 2022 at 21:47
Hi All,
Well this is a piece of good news, at least we can hope of seeing a possible UK owned Harrier flying in the UK fingers crossed. I can think of another couple that are/were used for training at RNAS Culdrose for Carrier Deck Handlers, Anyway they will surely be in the position that the brace at St Athen are in when training does not require them any longer surely ?
Looking through my Very Rose tinted glasses and openly admitting I do not like the F-35 for various reasons. IMPO the Harrier should have been kept flying by the RAF & RN just like the US Marines/Spanish and Italian AF forces have done until a suitable replacement was designed on the Harrier platform and not invested in the one size fits all theory, I imagine that mission creep is what the problems boil down to somewhat in reality ?
The multitude of problems old and new that persist to dog the F-35 show without a shadow of doubt IMPO the RAF & RN got rid of the Harrier and Tornado come to think of it rather to hastily with this all singing and dancing aircraft.
At the end of the day time will bear whether my scepticism of the F-35 is justified..
Geoff.
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April 23, 2022 at 9:10 pm