So a few days ago, I was speaking with some former British Royal Air Force and United States Air Force pilots. And they were talking about how they missed the the BAE Systems and McDonnell Douglas Harrier jets of the past.
Rather than this ‘American crap’ as one of the former RAF Pilots said (referring to the new F-35 Lightning II). The RAF pilots then started wining about how they detest the new F-35 that replaced the Harrier. So was it really as good as they say it was?
The Beginning
It was originally developed by the UK-based aircraft manufacturer Hawker Siddeley in the 1960’s. Hawker Siddeley is now part of BAE Systems so it is sometimes called the BAE Harrier. It emerged as the only successful V/STOL (Vertical/short take off and landing).
The British needed V/STOL as they envisioned a Cold War that turned nuclear. Where the USSR would use tactical nuclear strikes on the runways of Britain’s RAF bases. So V/STOL would be needed to defend the British skies. So, it would be need to be able to take off from a bombed out runway.
It was first introduced in the RAF in 1969, and the United States Marine Corps and Air Force in the 1970’s. The V/STOL capability was revolutionary because it created an aircraft that could operate from short or less-than-ideal runways.
A marine variant (Sea Harrier) was developed so that the V/STOL capabilities could be accessed on aircraft carriers. Hawker Siddeley gave the plans to the aircraft to McDonnell Douglas. Who then improved the design somewhat, and manufactured it under license.
This new and improved jet was designed with the name Harrier AV-8A and AV-8B, a Spanish variant was also developed, the EAV-8A and EAV-8B. This variant was exported heavily from the US, mainly to the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.
Thoughts At The Time
At the time, many people thought of the AV-8A as a quite unsophisticated aircraft on the inside. With what many saw as a bare-bones navigation and a lackluster attack system.
However, when used as an attack-bomber, like used in the United States Marine Corps, it was absolutely deadly against all types of enemies.
The Harrier only had the AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared-guided Air-to-Air missiles and other unguided air-to-ground ordinance.
Despite its apparent drawbacks, both in its weaponry and mechanically. The United States Marine Corps, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and United States Air Force, were happy with the Harrier.
Although, the Sea Harrier had a particularly bad reputation among the two navies, due to the commonality of exploding/crashing.
By 1985, the Harrier AV-8B was introduced to the various militaries, and by 1987, the Harrier AV-8A was withdrawn from service. In the beginning the AV-8B was only capable of day attacks, but by 1991 a night attack feature was introduced.
The Legacy
But at this time, the United States military had introduced the F-15 Eagle and F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets. Which had much superior firepower, yet the RAF continued to use it in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Where they bombed the Iraqi and Afghani forces, and flew sorties attacking the Iraqi and Afghani airbases. It famously fought against the Argentine forces in the Falklands war, by the RAF.
Flying in endless and relentless sorties on the Argentine forces that were occupying the Falkland Islands.
The aircraft was loved by the majority of pilots who flew it. The RAF continued to use the Harrier until 2010.
When the coalition government had to make budget cuts. So they planned to sell the Harriers to the US and private buyers to make the cash the government needed.
The United States Military still continue to use the Harrier GR9 and the Sea Harrier. Cannibalizing the remaining former RAF Harriers, that they bought from the coalition government, in the Arizona Desert.
The Harrier famously has the Rolls-Royce Pegasus 104/106 vectored thrust turbo fan engine. Which allowed it to perform V/STOL and hover like a helicopter purely on engine power.
Which used a total of 21,500lbs of thrust, or 2 gallons per second in a hover. The main variant only had one seat. However a trainer version was developed and dubbed the T4 (and later the T12), which had 2 seats.
It had a maximum range of 970km (roughly 600 miles), a maximum height of 15,545m (roughly 51,000 feet). Combined with a top speed of 734mph (roughly 1185km/h).
Which made it a subsonic aircraft, and it goes at around three times faster than a stock car. The aircraft can only perform a vertical take off, only if it has no bombs attached.
Conclusion
My opinion of the Harrier is that it was a unique aircraft that I personally love. The aircraft saw its full potential, it had a terrible reputation, that it managed to overcome. It is still in service with the Spanish Navy, Italian Navy and US Marine Corps.
It was heavily exported to foreign militaries, and became the first non-American produced aircraft to serve in the United States Navy and Marine Corps since World War I.
It was the only aircraft to have successfully V/STOL. Until the new Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II can perform STOVL (Short Take Off and Vertical Landing).
And almost all of the former Harrier and Sea Harrier pilots I have talked to, have said that they love the aircraft.
And those former RAF pilots that I spoke to said that they prefer the Harrier jet to the Tornado, which was actually supposed to be replaced by the Harrier, and the Tornado was supposed to be retired in 2010.
Where the Harrier would stay as the main jet of the Royal Air Force. To conclude this is a unique aircraft, that I personally love, and that is a sentiment that is shared by former pilots of the aircraft.
Some even went as far to say that it was the best fighter jet the Royal Air Force ever had. And the best aircraft Britain ever produced.