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AV-8B Harrier

AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet Model Plane (Order Today!)

AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet

To date the Harrier is the only successful design military jet aircraft that is capable vertical takeoff and landing. Originally a British design VTOL jet aircraft.

The Harrier was produced in four different versions. The four variations consisted of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the British Aerospace version was the Sea Harrier, Boeing BAE Systems AV-8B Harrier II, and BAE Systems Boeing Harrier II. In the production of the second generation two Harrier variants were built. The two consisted of BAE Systems Boeing Harrier II The BAE Harrier II the British variant and Boeing BAE Systems AV-8B U.S. variant for the second generation Jump Jets.

Early on in the development stages the VTOL Harrier aircraft was to be able to operate from many different places like clearings in the forest and car lots eliminating the need for the traditional air bases. The threat was from tactical nukes but development shifted to the carrier based VTOL fighter aircraft.

Harrier Jump Jet Historical Background

Going back as far as 1957 the Bristol Engine Company planned a thrust directed engine. At the time NATO put out a specification for a (Light Tactical Support Fighter) and Hawker Aircraft had a design to meet the requirements. But with no funds for development it would not likely be built. NATO had a Weapon Development Project budget that provided financial support for the project.

With a long drawn out process of prototypes and the requirement changes, including the start and cancelation of the project the Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 GR.3 the first generation of the Harrier was borne. Capable of vertical takeoff and landing the reconnaissance close support attack aircraft was ready.

The Royal Air Force staged the bulk of their Harriers in West Germany during the Cold War. The purpose was a defense against the possible invasion of the Soviet Union. The Harriers could be placed in strategic locations far away for major airbases. The United States Marine Corp used the Harriers in a different way. Primarily operating from amphibious ships and small forward bases. What they liked about the Harrier was the super short runways and minimal support ground facilities were needed for operation unlike other aircraft with fixed wings.

By 1970 British Aerospace developed the Sea Harrier for use on the Royal Navy Invincible class aircraft carriers. The Sea Harriers gave the Royal Navy a fixed wing aircraft for defense while the Royal Air Force Harriers concentrated on ground attack support for British forces on the ground.

Second Generation AV-8B Harrier

McDonnell Douglas now Boeing and British Aerospace did a joint redesign extensively redeveloping the Harrier. The final outcome produced the Boeing, BAE Systems AV-8B Harrier II. The second generation of the VTOL lead British Aerospace version to produce the Harrier GR5, GR7 and the GR9 of which all entered service mid 80s. The Harrier IIs are multi-use multi-role light attack fighter aircraft. Most often operated off small aircraft carriers. There are also several versions used by NATO that includes countries like Italy, Spain and the United States.

The Harrier variants have had a long successful life with 824 delivered between 1969 and 2003. All manufacturing stopped in 1997 but remanufacturing between 1969 and 2003, 824 Harrier variants were delivered. While manufacture of new Harriers concluded in 1997, the last remanufactured aircraft (Harrier II Plus configuration) was delivered in December 2003 which ended the Harrier production line.

The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II is a subsonic attack aircraft. The design retains the basic layout of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. Featuring shoulder mounted wings that feature a prominent an-hedral with horizontal stabilizer. The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II is powered by a single Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbofan engine. The Rolls-Royce Pegasus two intakes and four synchronized vector able nozzles are located close to the turbine. There are two nozzles are near the forward cold end of the engine and two nozzles are near the rear, hot end of the engine. To provide the Harrier II control at low airspeeds there are smaller valve-controlled nozzles in the nose, tail and wingtips. To carry extra fuel and armaments the AV-8B is designed with one centerline and six wing hard-points. The AV-8B Harrier also has two stations in the fuselage for a lethal 25 mm GAU-12 cannon and ammunition. In the British Aerospace Harrier II, a variant used by the Royal Air Force the avionics is different and there is an extra pylon on each wing for missiles.

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II Service

The AV-8B Harrier has been involved in a number of conflicts. It was successful at providing close air support for troops on the ground armed recon missions. Known as one of the most versatile assets of the Gulf War noted by General Norman Schwarzkopf as one of the 7 most important weapons at his command. The AV-8B Harrier was used in the Iraq War in 2003, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya in 2011. It is thought that the American and Italian AV-8Bs are due to be replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35B when they are completed and ready for service.

A Static Model Airplane display the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II will make a great addition to any model airplane collection.