PPRuNe Forums - Seajet XZ439 (N94422)

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- - Seajet XZ439 (N94422) (https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/283396-seajet-xz439-n94422.html)

Sea Harrier ground equipment

The team with the only flying civilian ex-RN Sea Harrier is seeking ground servicing equipment, everything from Houchin's to hydraulic hoses - any help would be much appreciated, and worthwhile to all Seajet fans !

Please PM me if necessary, Thanks.

DZ

No doubt we can come up with all the general ex MoD GSE you need. One careful lady owner, low useage, generally painted green.

Please email me your definitive list to i[email protected]

Sea Harrier equipment

First of all, thankyou Falcon 12 I have passed your details on.

It is a crying shame that the Navy couldn't manage a single display Seajet, wouldn't one think ?!

Mr.Farley, you probably already know who I am, I used to work for you; maybe this is an extension of 'U.K. Ltd' - a motto I try to stick to in my present work.

At least someone's doing something positive, do you think ?

Andy

Andy and MiG15

Good to hear from you Andy. Those were the days. The SHAR is virtually ready to test fly and its paperwork is all sorted. The owner told me that when the FAA guy was leaving he walked to its nose and crossed himself.

Nice story anyway...

JF

Mig 15,

try www.harrier.org.uk

Do please be understanding, even if abroad at least the lowest-houred Seajet is in good hands - Test Pilot etc - and a good climate !

If suffering insomnia my bit is 'harrier testing' on the History section, though of course you'll find a lot more sense reading J.F.'s article...

Andy

Three thoughts

1. See the Sea Jet thread on the Military Aircrew forum.
2. Are there any plans for a Sea Harrier to take part in the Falklands 25 events this year? If not, why not?
3. Perhaps this gentleman should be made an honoury member of the RNR Air Branch?

Are you recommending Mr.Nalls & his aircraft for 'ceremonial' purposes,

or in case the RN needs air cover ?!

Either way he deserves applause & support.

It's XZ439...
And will Mr Farley be booking a trip across the pond with his helmet and gloves I wonder?:ok:
Nige

Here's '439 seen at RNAS Yeovilton in 1980:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...66/XZ439VL.jpg

What does she look like today?

MiG15,
I'm new to the chat room, and it's taken me a few minutes to figure out how to answer some of your questions.

I am the proud owner of the SHAR XZ-439 in the US, registered under N94422. It does have a FAA airworthiness certificate and I'm waiting official license to fly it under a Letter of Authorization (LOA). I've been told that will be approved and it's in work.

We are very near readiness to fly. Only a few minor discrepencies remain to be fixed. We're installing a radio and transponder, as we speak, and will refit a hot Stencil ejection seat when the radio is complete, prior to first flight. The engine has been ground run 3 times and I've taxied twice. I would have gladly taken it around the patch on the last taxi test, but now is not the time to get cute - - -everyone is watching. I've also had the good fortune to be granted two simulator sessions, trying to make the AV-8B sim fly like the SHAR. Believe me, they made me work, but I was happy with my performance. I was rusty, but not to the point that a few trips around the pattern couldn't fix.

The plane is in near-perfect condition (per the US Marines who have volunteered time on this) and we've gone over the entire airplane from top to bottom. It's complete for flying and in great shape. I've even located and we're installing an original AV-8A airspeed indicator (what I grew up with), instead of the small standby gages. We're taking our time because we certainly don't want to make a mistake.

I'm an experienced Marine Corps aviator having flown the AV-8A, AV-8B, A4-M and as a test pilot in the AV-8B and TAV-8B. Lots of shipboard time, as well. This airplane is as familiar to me as an old pair of shoes. I fly regularly in the airshow circuit in a Czech L-39 Albatros, but have demonstrated in a WWII Russian YAK-3 fighter, and am looking forward to demonstating this beautiful piece of history on the circuit.

We've got no shortage of experienced and qualified pilots willing to fly and a cadre of experienced maintenance people who know this airplane inside out. We'll need some spares, from time to time, but at this point don't see anything that will prohibit this airplane from flying.

I hope this answers most of your questions. If you have any more, please feel free to e:mail me directly. I'll be checking the chat rooms periodically and we're near to publishing a website. As soon as that happens, I'll let you know.

sincerely,
Art Nalls
[email protected]

Hello, guys glad to hear the positive support about XZ439.
Chairborne - she is all gray and shiney (now that I hand wiped her she was covered with about a 1/4" hangar dust).

Need to ask if you guys can get the mechanics to check their toolboxes and "twenty-year-bins". Looking for the tube that adapts to the liquid spring service port; I can't find a part number or a thread size. also, need the adapter for servicing the nitrogen accumulators (p/n 772B35798, 1/4"BSP thread, as best I can tell from the manuals). I am sure somebody has these taking up space in a drawer somewhere. I still have F-4 and A-7 bits in a box in the back of my shed.

:ok:

I remember that the SHAR was fitted with a Martin Baker ejection seat but tne USMC AV8A was fitted with a seat of US mfr. What will you use and are you using a live seat?

We have a de-milled MB seat and MB does not want to be involved. Apparently the lawyers got involved. I spoke directly to them and said their liability was financial, mine was my butt.

We do have a HOT Stencil SIII seat, which is exactly what the Marines used. According to John Farley, the Stencil has a nasty habit of extreme neck loads in the flight regime of 180-225 knots, and that area should be avoided for ejection. I don't ever recall being briefed on that area and know a couple of buddies who died while ejecting in exactly that part of the flight envelope. That tid-bit of knowledge would have been helpful.

Anyway, we would of course like a brand-new, full-up ejection seat, instead of government surplus, but I'll take the chance. I'm not doing carrier ops, low-level nav, air-to-air, or being shot at.

Hi Guys.
This adaptor you are trying to find is part of a Kit of items.
The equipment is known as a:-
Turner Adaptor Kit, Part No 772 Series consist of:-
Regulators 2 off.
Pressure gauges 2 off.
Hose assembly.(A/C Type).
Adaptors as required.(A/C Type).
The Regulators<I believe come with 3/8 BSP inlet threads to attach to Ground Bottle Trolley Hose.
The kit is conained in a metal box and is issued from stores for operator use,so the chances of finding the odd adapter is slim.
You may be able to find a kit but you need to confirm the adaptor is provided in the kit,this kit is been in use for a least 35+ years.
Toppy

thanks toppy we'll look into those.

Chairbourne, really like the colors of XZ439 in the picture. can't imagine being a junior RN sailor working with a white harrier belly, "wax on...wax off".

U.S. Sea Harrier

Congrats on getting this far Mr. Nalls!

I was just curious if you had any air shows that you planned on displaying the SHAR at this year.

Also, what markings do you intend to display her in?

I truly look forward to seeing a SHAR in the air again!

Cheers!

John

We have several airshows that have expressed desire to have the SHAR displayed and haven't balked at the price. Until a sponsor picks up the tab, I have to cover expenses myself. We firmly believe that once it flies, we'll have demand exceed supply and hopefully a sponsor will want his name on it. It won't be a problem to display the SHAR.

As for paint scheme, that is TBD. It's a British Fighter (the last, all British Fighter) ending a line that started with the Sopwith's of WWI. It will either be in some form of UK livery or whatever the sponsor wants - if it's reasonable. It is inappropriate to paint it in USMC colors, so it won't. I'd like to see some UK-Heritgage flight in formation with a Sopwith, Spitfire and SHAR. How does that sound?

I personally prefer the Admiral's Barge livery (dark blue with white underside) used just prior to the official retirement in the UK. However, the photographers hate dark blue or black. At a distance, they photograph as a dark blob. We'll see.

As a FYI, we've solved the thread problem for the nose gear liquid spring servicing adapter. Thanks to many who have helped research the actual thread type and to locate suitable dies. We now can get on with the game.

Thanks for the info Mr. Nalls

I agree, the SHAR should be displayed in markings which are similar to what she wore while in service. I have always hated the Red Bull Sea Vixen markings as I am a purist and think aircraft should be displayed in markings that the type actually wore.

I also like the Admiral's Barge scheme. However, this scheme wasn't standard for operational SHARs and as such I would recomend sticking with the scheme that 800 and 801 employed. I have always been partial to 801's markings with the white and black checkers on the rudder so if you are interested in feedback on that please feel free to add mine to the 801 column! :ok:

Please keep us up to date on the scheduling of the SHAR for air shows as I would like to have the opportunity to photograph the jet at as many airshows as I can!

Cheers!

John