Harrier question
Thread Starter
Harrier question
In most if not all pictures i've seen of Harriers in the hover
the ventral speed brake is deployed.
With zero or little forward airspeed it's obviously not being
used to decelerate the aircraft.
Is it extended to 'assist' somehow with the local airflow
being affected by the nozzle efflux ?
the ventral speed brake is deployed.
With zero or little forward airspeed it's obviously not being
used to decelerate the aircraft.
Is it extended to 'assist' somehow with the local airflow
being affected by the nozzle efflux ?
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Is the John Farley LIDS post roundabout here:
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...ml#post8353675
&/or
http://www.pprune.org/8353675-post37.html
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...ml#post8353675
&/or
http://www.pprune.org/8353675-post37.html
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 3rd Mar 2017 at 07:48. Reason: JF LIDS
I seem to remember reading in Air International around the time the GR5 was being introduced that it had been found that the gun pods made a big difference to the hover performance and that a small, retractable flap was fitted at the front between the two pods. If the pods weren't fitted then strakes were. I believe the UK Harriers had gunpods minus the gun.
Tabs please !
I am about as far from "an expert" as it is possible to be. I did read somewhere that the strakes / pods plus the flap created some sort of pocket which trapped recirculating air and provided a degree of extra lift. The recirculation happened when hovering within ground effect.
If I am totally wrong then apologies etc. etc.
If I am totally wrong then apologies etc. etc.
It all helps works as part of the LIDS (Lift Improvement Device...System?) and helps create a pocket of air under the jet below 30' or so. From memory it helped cushion the touchdown on a VL, but could actually hinder you in certain wind conditions.
To be honest, a few jets had the LIDS fence locked up for maintenance reasons. Damned if I noticed a difference whilst landing!
To be honest, a few jets had the LIDS fence locked up for maintenance reasons. Damned if I noticed a difference whilst landing!
LIDS/strakes/gunpods did nothing for the HOVER performance but did help cushion VLs and also helped (marginally) with VTOs.
Airbrake drooped (45 degrees??)with the gear down to increase directional stability. I am sure that JF has explained somewhere.
Airbrake drooped (45 degrees??)with the gear down to increase directional stability. I am sure that JF has explained somewhere.
Airbrake position
The airbrake on Harrier was always in the mid position with the gear selected down to aid in directional stability at low airspeeds. The Harrier suffered from instability at low speeds due to the size of the engine intakes. The airbrake switch on the throttle could only be selected out or in and was driven from either out or in to the mid position (26 degrees ish) when the gear was selected down and positioned by microswitches (Harrier1) or a drum switch (Harrier11).
The lids fence, strakes or gun pods and the follow up door of the main landing gear provided the four "sides" of the "dam" that helped form an air cushion when subject to ground effect during VL or RVL with the nozzles were deflected. The lids fence could not be selected out but lowered when the nose gear came down. It could though be retracted if due to malfunction, it stayed down when the nose gear retracted.
The lids fence, strakes or gun pods and the follow up door of the main landing gear provided the four "sides" of the "dam" that helped form an air cushion when subject to ground effect during VL or RVL with the nozzles were deflected. The lids fence could not be selected out but lowered when the nose gear came down. It could though be retracted if due to malfunction, it stayed down when the nose gear retracted.
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If I remember correctly (now circa 40 years ago)....
On odd occasions the microswitch circuit which was meant to put the airbrake in the mid position when the U/C was down failed and the airbrake would fully extend. This led to graunching noises and an untidily arranged lower edge of said airbrake.
Fix was to simply file it straight (OK it might have been slightly more "drawing - controlled" than that, but that was the gist of it).
It didn't seem to cause any issue with the aircraft handling at all
On odd occasions the microswitch circuit which was meant to put the airbrake in the mid position when the U/C was down failed and the airbrake would fully extend. This led to graunching noises and an untidily arranged lower edge of said airbrake.
Fix was to simply file it straight (OK it might have been slightly more "drawing - controlled" than that, but that was the gist of it).
It didn't seem to cause any issue with the aircraft handling at all
I believe the UK Harriers had gunpods minus the gun.
The UK Harrier I aircraft (GR1/1a/3/3a etc and the SHAR family) always had cleared guns IIRC.
PDR
Last edited by PDR1; 12th Mar 2017 at 08:49.
Further to the statement that the Harrier 1 airbrake was positioned in the mid position by micro switches, i seem to remember there were two switches 24 & 26 degrees which positioned the airbrake depending on whether it was going from up to mid on gear down selection or fully out to mid on gear down selection. These switches were a pain to adjust and the result was often seen on the line with engine running, .............. a chattering airbrake trying to decide if it should be at 24 or 26 degrees!