Mexe Pad Monday - For all things Harrier

[P6 Driver]

Continuing the theme started with Phantom Friday, WIWOL Wednesday and Tornado Tuesday, how about MEXE PAD MONDAY to celebrate everything about the HARRIER, whether photos or anecdotes.

[HambleTinBasher]

Many moons ago I did assembly and repair work on the tin tail planes.
All the best.


Bash.


Yeovilton Air Day arrivals day 2010.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6228/6267160249_76a5de8964_o.jpg

[TyroPicard]

I was really looking forward to some pics of MEXE PADS......

[goudie]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Harrier_landing_on_Mexe_Pad_at_RAF_Wittering_MOD_45147875.jp g/800px-Harrier_landing_on_Mexe_Pad_at_RAF_Wittering_MOD_45147875.jp g

Attribution: Photo: SAC Phil Major /MOD

[Dominator2]

Monday already taken by The Mighty Hunter. I also had hoped that we would see and read of Hawker Hunter exploits, but there you are. There are obviously still a few of the Kipper Fleet about!

[Flap62]

Very true Chris, it does.

But tell me, where exactly on the hairdressing course did it all go wrong for you?

[Finnpog]

Caling the thread "vertical THrust THursdays" and using that as a moniker before someone gets in to bagsy that as well? :E

[jetslut]

I had considered 'Tin Strip Thursday' but due to the relatively small number of protagonists, the FLAK was going to be outrageous.

Having particular problems posting this picture, BLOKS
Coff help me here with personal photo uploads

[Courtney Mil]

file:///C:/Users/lc/Desktop/taxying%20for%20early%20ops.jpg

Thank you for the link to all the personal details on your desktop. I particularly enjoyed some of the photos there of "Molly" :ok:.

Edited to say, beat you to it, Jetslut!

[jetslut]

Cheers CMIL,, pleasure is mine
...DOH!

[jetslut]

Molly's dating Brick these days,

[megan]

They still live.

kMX8fUvBmEs

[noprobs]

Here's a whole lot of kicked tin to keep us going until Monday. http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd382/noprobs2/48%20Har%20Pres.jpg[/URL]

[noprobs]

The first volume of the book Harrier Boys is about to go on sale.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd382/noprobs2/cover%20amazon.jpg[/URL]
Contributors will be signing copies sold at the Flying Legends Air Show on 11th and 12th July at Duxford. The book will be on sale at the Aviation Bookshop stand.
It can also be ordered online now.

[MPN11]

@ nprobs ... nice site photo.

Ivan, does that look like 4 copses of trees?
Nyet, Boris, and don't tell anyone we've noticed the MEXE pad and the take-off strip as well.
Ahh, and I thought they were peasants huts, built in nice straight row?
You're half right, Comrade.

[glad rag]

Didn't really want to to point out the bleeding obvious to the harrier Mafia...

[noprobs]

Alternatively, here is the picture from an old RAF recruitment poster, showing Sennelager Range from the north. In the picture, there are 2 peacetime training Harrier sites, with 2 airborne Harriers and 6 more on the ground. If you're approaching from this direction intending to drop dumb bombs, you're too late for the first site, and at 540kts, you have about 2 seconds to get your sight on to the second. And the picture was taken on an unusually clear day.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd382/noprobs2/Sites%20Poster%201.jpg[/URL]

[glad rag]

Alternatively just blind/cluster bomb the entire area...simples....finesse is not required.

[P6 Driver]

Image removed

[MPN11]

At Tengah, 20 Sqn were known as "F Troop". Nice to see the Sqn markings again - I was their ATC Liaison Officer.

noprobs ... agreed in principle. But a goppingly obvious site begs area wpns, as glad rag said.

[P6 Driver]

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[P6 Driver]

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[P6 Driver]

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[P6 Driver]

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[stickmonkeytamer]

Trailing...

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd185/opso1/1024vc10harrefuelscan.jpg (http://s221.photobucket.com/user/opso1/media/1024vc10harrefuelscan.jpg.html)

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd185/opso1/1024vc10harrsscan.jpg (http://s221.photobucket.com/user/opso1/media/1024vc10harrsscan.jpg.html)

[Minnie Burner]

Is this the Harrier relocation from Wildenrath to Gutersloh?

[Haraka]

Minnie Burner
Good attempt at a witty crack .
However I see that either RAFG History or aircraft recognition is not your forte :)

[Busta]

I found this one morning in FI, not sure if it was just the wind, or a DIY HAS.

http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff471/Tplus9/PD_0118.jpg (http://s1237.photobucket.com/user/Tplus9/media/PD_0118.jpg.html)

Nothing matters very much, most things don't matter at all.

[BEagle]

From 40 years ago in RAFG:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/nw969/BJ_zpsajqhjjjp.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/nw969/media/BJ_zpsajqhjjjp.jpg.html)

I held with 20 Sqn at Wildenrath for a while between my Gnat course and Hunter refresher; this was during a typical RAFG Maxeval at Hövelhof International Mudport.....

[Lyneham Lad]

T-Bird & single seater at a mid 70's Open Day at Valley.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f84/Lyneham_Lad/Aircraft/Harrier_T_Valley001.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f84/Lyneham_Lad/Aircraft/Harrier_Valley001.jpg

[binbrook]

Does anyone out there have pics of the 12in = 1ft model Harriers set out in the sticks for recce trials in RAFG in the late 60s? Better still, any air-to-grounds?

[noprobs]

Endex. Lots of Mexe, with Sappers waiting to rip it up. Can the jet be fixed in time to fly out, or will it be a road move?

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd382/noprobs2/Mexe%20wait.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/noprobs2/media/Mexe%20wait.jpg.html)

[Wetstart Dryrun]

Taceval Officer question....

... so, can you give zee turnaround to zee F104 Starfighter?

You get it in, and we'll turn it round.

Wets

PS. Ugly

[BirdController]

"Good attempt at a witty crack .
However I see that either RAFG History or aircraft recognition is not your forte"

A little harsh perhaps? I'm sure it's probably tongue in cheek........................

[BirdController]

"Endex. Lots of Mexe, with Sappers waiting to rip it up. Can the jet be fixed in time to fly out, or will it be a road move?"


Memory fades over the intervening years but was it Sqn Ldr Keith Holland who 'air tested' a 3 Sqn aircraft, after an engine change in the field under one of those blow up rubber hangers (and after everyone else had decamped back to Wildenrath, excepting the engineers + fire & ATC bods) with Sappers waiting impatiently to rip-up the MEXE pad - possibly 1975/76?


I seem to remember a vertical 'rotating' departure from MEXE pad after much faffing about with engine revs etc, followed by a low level (below tree height) fly by in front of assembled engineers - who seemed quite appreciative of said pilot's efforts!


It may have been the same deployment that saw the Canadian Air Force 'attack' us through the trees with their CF-104's which led the ATC controller to put just one word in his log after logging the attack - "WOW!!".


On the other hand they may just be distant memories distorted by the rapid passing of time...........

[Fonsini]

Are there many photos of heavily armed Harriers, I remember the iconic 4 SNEB RAF recruiting photo of a GR.3 unloading (over the Wash?) - but mostly it always seemed to be a pair of drop tanks and the ADENs.

[Minnie Burner]

"Good attempt at a witty crack .
However I see that either RAFG History or aircraft recognition is not your forte"

A little harsh perhaps? I'm sure it's probably tongue in cheek........................ Haraka is quite right, I'm certainly not an RAFG Harrier history geek, but even I knew Moggie Morgan was flying a wetjet, not a bonajet, in the S Atlantic!!!

Touche, great mate! :ok:

[dctyke]

Is #29 pic is showing the top secret 150% lerx?