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Wingless Walrus
1st Aug 2018, 19:15
Distinguished members,
I hope you don’t mind me gate crashing your site. I am a fan of the Sea Harrier and I am trying to collect various bits and pieces, including cockpit items, information about their operation and of the aircraft systems and performance.

If anyone has any suggestions on where I may get cockpit items from the Sea Harrier FA2 cockpit could they please let me know? In particular I am seeking a Sea Harrier FA2 stick grip (later mod version).

I have collected a few parts over the years: HUD, HUD Control Panel, Pilots Control Panel, MADGE, throttle grip, fuel contents gauge, Hyd pressure gauge, standby compass, I-band transponder control unit and TACAN control unit.

I've tried eBay and several aviation companies, with some success, but it feels like fishing for two headed trout most of the time.

I am also seeking any documents on how to use these items; as the Sea Harrier was sadly removed from service I am hoping to be able to get hold of some documentation for the aircraft. There is also a flying Sea Harrier FA2 in private hands in the USA, so I am hoping there must be system and performance documents around somewhere.

I have got hold of some SHAR documents, including a pilot’s manual, but have struggled to find information on cockpit items showing exactly how they are operated by the pilot. I have some information on the SHAR systems and aircraft performance but there are still many ‘holes’.

If anyone could give me the name of any relevant sources or documents then I may be able to find them in the archive of the FAA museum in Yeovilton; they have a tremendous number of Sea Harrier related documents and diagrams, but it would be impractical to sit and thumb through each one to see what’s in it. I have also found some interesting information in the British Library, including on the Blue Vixen Radar.

This is very likely a pipe dream, but I wanted to try and get the HUD working by tickling its connectors with the right signals to drive the HUD symbology. To do this I need a document detailing exactly what kind of signal is on each pin of each connector. I worked on the Typhoon systems and we could drive the cockpit equipment’s by simulating the inputs to their connectors. The document detailing the signal for each pin was known as an Interface Control Document (ICD), that for each pin defined the type of signal and range of value, voltage etc. It would be great if I could get hold of such a document for the Sea Harrier FA2 HUD.

Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

NutLoose
2nd Aug 2018, 10:44
Try registering and asking here
https://forum.keypublishing.com/forumdisplay.php?4-Historic-Aviation

They have a cockpit builders thread running

https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?111179-Aircraft-Cockpit-Sections-Instrument-Panel-Projects-Part-2

and also a stick collectors

https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?121888-Your-Favourite-Control-Column-Stick-Yoke-Grip!

they should be abe to help point you in the right direction.

NutLoose
2nd Aug 2018, 10:47
Take it you tried Everrett, though not cheap

EVERETT AERO SALES & SUPPORT. (http://www.everettaero.com/)

and Jet Art
Jet Art Aviation | We specialise in the supply of static display / museum aircraft, aircraft engines, cockpit section, ejection seats, aircraft spares and Aviation collectables. (http://www.jetartaviation.co.uk/)

Wingless Walrus
2nd Aug 2018, 18:12
NutLoose, thanks for those links I will try fishing there and see what I can find.
Yes, looked at both those companies; Everett were extremely helpful in giving advice and asking around on my behalf. I bought at least one of my items from Jet Art.
There is a Radar Display Unit available online, but not cheap; two sold cheaper in the past on eBay (doesn't mean they will be that cheap again) but I am hanging on to my pennies in the hope I can get a stick top and maybe one other instrument instead.
I did find a stick top and agree a price with another company but it fell through at the last minute. I guess that is how it is when fishing; you think you are just about to land a catch when it wriggles off the hook.
Thanks again for those web links, I didn't know about those.