Harrier display

[lmgaylard]

Hello all.


I have a quick question for you kind chaps.


Does anyone know when the 1st RAF Harrier air display was performed? Was it 1969?
I know 1Sqn displayed at Farnbourough with a 4-ship in 1970 but did the RAF display the Harrier before?


Thank you all in advance.

[P6 Driver]

Can't help with the pure flying display question, but the Transatlantic Air Race is the earliest reference I have of RAF Harriers being on public show.


Of course, on this site, the first reply to this type of query should be "Why do you want to know?"*.






(*Tongue firmly in cheek)

[lmgaylard]

Thank you P6 Driver for your comments.


Yes the 'Air Race' was an early 'public' apperance but I was after the 1st 'Official' air display.


I should have said that I'm writing an article about display flying the Sea Harrier but obviously the RAF was 1st to 'VIFF' in public. So I wanted to know when the RAF started it off.


Thank you.

[Fitter2]

ISTR there was one at the Upavon RAF Golden Anniversay display, although it might have been one of the pre-Harrier Kestrels

[Vampiredave]

The “Kestrel Evaluation Demonstration Team” was formed at RAF West Raynham in 1965 and comprised Sqn Ldr Fred Trowern, Flt Lt Tony 'Porky' Munro, Major Al Johnson, US Army, and First Lt Volke Suhr, WGAF. Demonstrations by the team were limited to invited guests and the media, and consisted of slow flight, hovering and vertical landings. On 15 October 1965 the team took part in a press photo-call at West Raynham, and on 25 November Fred Trowern carried out a single aircraft demonstration (high speed and VTOL) for a party of visiting VIPs.

[Pontius Navigator]

In Sep 1965 the Kestrel took part in Exercise Unison, a tri-Service demonstration hosted that year by the RAF at Cranwell.

The flying bedstead and HP 115 were also demonstrated. I think the Army also introduced the Abbot and Chieftain. The RN did a Labs attack profile with a Buccaneer with an inert Red Beard in the bomb bay.

[Tankertrashnav]

If it's any help the Harrier displayed at Gaydon Battle of Britain Day in 1969. I was Orderly Officer that day and watched the whole show. No idea if that was the first one though.

[Pontius Navigator]

TTN, 18th Sep, I was there, we came in west to east having missed the airfield for the planned east-west pass. The wx was ds, that's my excuse and I am sticking to it :)

4 Merlins

[Wander00]

PN - crikey, you just opened the memory box. Autumn 65 we were "senior entry"

[Finningley Boy]

If its the first R.A.F. Harrier displays, it would have been 20th September 1969; three from the OCU and one from 1 Sqn. All gave individual displays covering each of seven B.O.B. displays;
Benson, Biggin Hill, Coltishall, Finningley, Gaydon, Leuchars and St Athan!

FB:)

[QuePee]

All,

I think the first display may have actually been in 1968. I have a poor photo of Harrier XV279 taken at RAF Abingdon on 15th June at the 50th anniversary of the Royal Air Force. I would post the picture but its not really worth looking at.

I know that he 15th was not really a public display but I believe that the whole thing was repeated on the following day.


QP