RE: Harrier GR3: You Know You Want To
Wednesday 26th March 2014
Much of my life has been spent trundling up and down the A1; landmarks along this road are few and far between but one of them I always used to look out for was an English Electric Lightning slowly rotting in a scrapyard somewhere near Newark. Over the years it slowly disintegrated, parts being robbed from it, graffiti covering what panels remained and the steady process of decay seeing it reduced further every time I went past. I went past the other day and, finally, it seems the Lightning has gone the way of the roundabouts that used to punctuate the journey leaving just the OK Diners and inexplicable - and seemingly unique to the A1 - rise of the roadside sex shop. Filthy truckers.
Where's the nav then?Anyway. This one may take some explaining if you decide to take a punt on it. But as an example of some of the weird and wonderful things that lurk in the furthest reaches of the PH classifieds we couldn't help expanding on our Tweet and giving this Harrier GR3 some homepage exposure.
It needs bit of work, yesWell, you could put it on display beside a desolate and boring stretch of road like that old Lightning. There aren't many things that can make a journey down the A1 exciting but that old fighter jet used to achieve that in fine style. And if you can't fly the thing at least you can surprise and delight a few bored plane geeks. And, yes, I know there's another Harrier further south on the A1 outside the aircraft's home base of RAF Wittering. More the merrier though.
Harrier GR3: You Know You Want To
It's got 30mm cannon pods for "that mean and purposeful look" in case you weren't already sold on the idea
Where's the nav then?
A few caveats. It's not a runner. Indeed, it hasn't flown since 1990. We're assuming those pods on its belly don't actually contain the 30mm Aden revolver cannons so the "mean and purposeful look" the vendor mentions is little more than that. It does come with its Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine but that's currently not fitted to the airframe. It does, however, have a display trolley to allow you to put it on show beside the plane.
It does apparently have combat history though, its operational life including deployments in Belize and Germany but also active service in the Falklands conflict. It's claimed it represents a "serious investment opportunity" but we'd have to see about that. With or without the prospect of a financial return what the hell would you do with it?
It needs bit of work, yes
Harrier GR3
Price: POA
Why you should: It's a jump jet!
Why you shouldn't: Its days of jumping are over; might take some explaining back home.
See the original advert here.
Discussion
Purely hypothetically of course, but any Aero buffs care to comment on:
Cost and possibility of making it fly again.
How long and how much to train to fly it yourself.
And finally, are you even allow to fly these sort of things?? Imagine the fuss you could cause buzzing ships of the Russian Navy or over-shooting Israel!
P.S. I've got an uncle and a few friends who used to work at RAF St. Athan maintaining aircraft, I assume that would give me some sort of head-start if I could drag them out of retirement.
Cost and possibility of making it fly again.
How long and how much to train to fly it yourself.
And finally, are you even allow to fly these sort of things?? Imagine the fuss you could cause buzzing ships of the Russian Navy or over-shooting Israel!
P.S. I've got an uncle and a few friends who used to work at RAF St. Athan maintaining aircraft, I assume that would give me some sort of head-start if I could drag them out of retirement.
Edited by P-Jay on Wednesday 26th March 11:03
Worked on Apache helicopters for 12 years so not quite fast jet but still gas turbine engines etc.
Components are very very expensive 1 small screw will cost around £20 due to it being stringently tested for airworthiness regardless of it probably being the same screw you can get from B&Q for a couple of pence.
A blade sleeve (the bit that holds the rotor to the rotor head on the Apache) costs £24k
The aircraft would most likely need a complete strip down and most bits will most likely be corroded etc. The engine could be overhauled (also at some considerable expense) but its the airframe, controls,hydraulics and the very outdated electronics which would cost the most. Put it this way if you could afford it, it would be cheaper to buy yourself one that works.
I'd take a punt at at least 300-500k to get it moving around the ground with all the controls working, bit more to get it fully airworthy plus all your license fees etc.
To work on the aircraft aswell you also need to be licensed etc so you would most likely have to employ someone to repair it/maintain it. So 50k a year at least for their time plus the aircraft can only fly for so many flying hours before quite expensive maintenance is required etc etc.
I think its one of those times were if you have to ask how much it costs you cant afford it.
Components are very very expensive 1 small screw will cost around £20 due to it being stringently tested for airworthiness regardless of it probably being the same screw you can get from B&Q for a couple of pence.
A blade sleeve (the bit that holds the rotor to the rotor head on the Apache) costs £24k
The aircraft would most likely need a complete strip down and most bits will most likely be corroded etc. The engine could be overhauled (also at some considerable expense) but its the airframe, controls,hydraulics and the very outdated electronics which would cost the most. Put it this way if you could afford it, it would be cheaper to buy yourself one that works.
I'd take a punt at at least 300-500k to get it moving around the ground with all the controls working, bit more to get it fully airworthy plus all your license fees etc.
To work on the aircraft aswell you also need to be licensed etc so you would most likely have to employ someone to repair it/maintain it. So 50k a year at least for their time plus the aircraft can only fly for so many flying hours before quite expensive maintenance is required etc etc.
I think its one of those times were if you have to ask how much it costs you cant afford it.
P-Jay said:
Purely hypothetically of course, but any Aero buffs care to comment on:
Cost and possibility of making it fly again.
How long and how much to train to fly it yourself.
And finally, are you even allow to fly these sort of things?? Imagine the fuss you could cause buzzing ships of the Russian Navy or over-shooting Israel!
P.S. I've got an uncle and a few friends who used to work at RAF St. Athan maintaining aircraft, I assume that would give me some sort of head-start if I could drag them out of retirement.
Never.Cost and possibility of making it fly again.
How long and how much to train to fly it yourself.
And finally, are you even allow to fly these sort of things?? Imagine the fuss you could cause buzzing ships of the Russian Navy or over-shooting Israel!
P.S. I've got an uncle and a few friends who used to work at RAF St. Athan maintaining aircraft, I assume that would give me some sort of head-start if I could drag them out of retirement.
Edited by P-Jay on Wednesday 26th March 11:03
Never.
The CAA simply wouldn't allow it.
I wonder if Flt. Lt. J.Herod is a PH'er? Would be great to get some info from him on the aircraft.
A quick google suggests he went on to become an instructor...
http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/aircraft_by_typ...
If you search for his name he had a 'very hard' landing at Wittering in 1995!!
A quick google suggests he went on to become an instructor...
http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/aircraft_by_typ...
If you search for his name he had a 'very hard' landing at Wittering in 1995!!
Jimbo. said:
P-Jay said:
Purely hypothetically of course, but any Aero buffs care to comment on:
Cost and possibility of making it fly again.
How long and how much to train to fly it yourself.
And finally, are you even allow to fly these sort of things?? Imagine the fuss you could cause buzzing ships of the Russian Navy or over-shooting Israel!
P.S. I've got an uncle and a few friends who used to work at RAF St. Athan maintaining aircraft, I assume that would give me some sort of head-start if I could drag them out of retirement.
Never.Never.Cost and possibility of making it fly again.
How long and how much to train to fly it yourself.
And finally, are you even allow to fly these sort of things?? Imagine the fuss you could cause buzzing ships of the Russian Navy or over-shooting Israel!
P.S. I've got an uncle and a few friends who used to work at RAF St. Athan maintaining aircraft, I assume that would give me some sort of head-start if I could drag them out of retirement.
Edited by P-Jay on Wednesday 26th March 11:03
The CAA simply wouldn't allow it.
Sorry Jimbo
Oh yes you can mate of mine had a decommissioned Hawker Hunter in civi sadly he suffered a misdemeanor and planted it ,Wally Cubit was a top crop duster pilot in the 70's a carpenter by trade and a self taught aero engineer . His down fall was not wanting to disapoint the crowds at an airshow one day .
Oh, and they lied about it seeing missions in Falklands:
BAe Harrier GR.3 XZ132
29.03.82 - A of 233 OCU Wittering, transferred to 1(F) Sqn during April.
Allocated fin code - Red 36. Outrigger codes - Yellow 36. ALE-40 chaff dispensers fitted.
04.05.82 - flown from Wittering to St Mawgan, from there on 05.05.82 to Banjul and on to Wideawake, Ascension on 06.05.82. Suffered from incurable fuel leaks; returned to Wittering, date unknown.
Source: http://archive.is/vEKoS#selection-1717.0-1769.72
BAe Harrier GR.3 XZ132
29.03.82 - A of 233 OCU Wittering, transferred to 1(F) Sqn during April.
Allocated fin code - Red 36. Outrigger codes - Yellow 36. ALE-40 chaff dispensers fitted.
04.05.82 - flown from Wittering to St Mawgan, from there on 05.05.82 to Banjul and on to Wideawake, Ascension on 06.05.82. Suffered from incurable fuel leaks; returned to Wittering, date unknown.
Source: http://archive.is/vEKoS#selection-1717.0-1769.72
P-Jay said:
Jimbo. said:
Never.
Never.
The CAA simply wouldn't allow it.
Frankly, if I was the one with the fully functional Harrier I'd be the one telling people who does what Never.
The CAA simply wouldn't allow it.
Seems I'd have to stick to my original 'euro millions win day dream' and keep a L39 somewhere sunny in the US.
llamafarmer said:
Oh, and they lied about it seeing missions in Falklands:
BAe Harrier GR.3 XZ132
29.03.82 - A of 233 OCU Wittering, transferred to 1(F) Sqn during April.
Allocated fin code - Red 36. Outrigger codes - Yellow 36. ALE-40 chaff dispensers fitted.
04.05.82 - flown from Wittering to St Mawgan, from there on 05.05.82 to Banjul and on to Wideawake, Ascension on 06.05.82. Suffered from incurable fuel leaks; returned to Wittering, date unknown.
Source: http://archive.is/vEKoS#selection-1717.0-1769.72
How on earth can a jet suffer from 'incurable fuel leaks'?BAe Harrier GR.3 XZ132
29.03.82 - A of 233 OCU Wittering, transferred to 1(F) Sqn during April.
Allocated fin code - Red 36. Outrigger codes - Yellow 36. ALE-40 chaff dispensers fitted.
04.05.82 - flown from Wittering to St Mawgan, from there on 05.05.82 to Banjul and on to Wideawake, Ascension on 06.05.82. Suffered from incurable fuel leaks; returned to Wittering, date unknown.
Source: http://archive.is/vEKoS#selection-1717.0-1769.72
Presumably there's a finite number of pipes and bolts that are either loose or need a tighten up?
There is only one flyable civilian owned Harrier in airworthy condition in the world - and that's in the US. The pilot is ex US Marine Corps and used to fly them for a living.
Back in the 1970s, Hawker Siddeley operated a couple of Harriers on the civil register. One of them, G-VTOL, is now on display at Brooklands.
Harriers are notoriously difficult aircraft to fly - especially the early generation versions like the GR3.
As for this one, I'll have to stick to 1/72 versions I'm afraid.
Back in the 1970s, Hawker Siddeley operated a couple of Harriers on the civil register. One of them, G-VTOL, is now on display at Brooklands.
Harriers are notoriously difficult aircraft to fly - especially the early generation versions like the GR3.
As for this one, I'll have to stick to 1/72 versions I'm afraid.
this seems like a opportune moment to remind people of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGjizZCXetk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGjizZCXetk
350Matt said:
this seems like a opportune moment to remind people of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGjizZCXetk
Best advert. Ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGjizZCXetk
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