‘Christine’ takes a hit
Thread Starter
‘Christine’ takes a hit
Recent news from RAF Wittering 
RAF Wittering can confirm a civilian vehicle has collided with the Harrier at the main gate whilst approaching the station on the northbound A1. There are no casualties and the matter has been referred to the Civilian Police. Our primary concern is the safety of all road users and the vehicle will be recovered as soon as practicable. There are no live munitions on the aircraft.
RAF Wittering can confirm a civilian vehicle has collided with the Harrier at the main gate whilst approaching the station on the northbound A1. There are no casualties and the matter has been referred to the Civilian Police. Our primary concern is the safety of all road users and the vehicle will be recovered as soon as practicable. There are no live munitions on the aircraft.
"Christine" is serial ZD469. She has a colourful history of mishaps!
https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?108535-New-Harrier-on-the-gate-RAF-Wittering&p=1739084#post1739084
https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?108535-New-Harrier-on-the-gate-RAF-Wittering&p=1739084#post1739084
I have spent many hours attending to Christine after her misfortunes and worked with the guy whose head got trapped when the nose u/c doors shut......he was very lucky and doesn’t remember much of it!
When it was (badly) painted up and put on the main gate I remember joking that I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s tie down shackles broke and it rolled out onto the A1! I think I’ll shut up from now on!
When it was (badly) painted up and put on the main gate I remember joking that I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s tie down shackles broke and it rolled out onto the A1! I think I’ll shut up from now on!
Interesting from what the insurance company make of this. Rarely do a vehicle have air side insurance and whilst this is obviously not air side, it is on MOD property.
There was Damion - the Nimrod R1 - XW666. He eventually went for a swim in the Moray Firth!
YS
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Away from home Rat
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ZD469 lost a canopy out in North America in 2002 I do believe. She came back to Cottesmore in the back of a C17. I was involved in her return. She got her revenge on me 2 weeks later (indirectly.. )
At Laarparts in the late 90’s, ‘the jet that should not be named’ was being fettled in HMF. The unfortunate chap was working on something in the nose wheel well when there was an uncommanded gear retraction and the top of his head was pinned in the gear doors. Ouch. My memory of the cause is hazy, rumour control was pretty rife at the time. I’m sure someone more enlightened will be able to flesh out the details.
Did this incident happen at RAF Laarbruch in the summer of 97 or 98? I only ask because there was an incident of this type at Laarbruch at that time and it coincided with the OM Summer Ball! I recall that it caused a bit of a stir, but thankfully the victim survived!
Sorry Sitchbitch - I'm not sure how I didn't see your post, but I'm certain it wasn't there when I posted mine 
Anyway, sounds like we are both referring to the same incident - a friend of mine who was the SHASO at Laarbruch at that time he told me the story, so assume it was that jet.
This lovely weather we are enjoying at the moment in Central Southern England reminds me of happy summer days in Germany with a cold beer in hand
Anyway, sounds like we are both referring to the same incident - a friend of mine who was the SHASO at Laarbruch at that time he told me the story, so assume it was that jet.
This lovely weather we are enjoying at the moment in Central Southern England reminds me of happy summer days in Germany with a cold beer in hand
As Harriers left Laarbruch in 99 I think 97 or 98 would be right. Can’t remember the exact circumstances but the Harrier had a manual opening valve for the nose u/c doors. On shut down the lineys would pull and turn the tee handle that opened the doors. This would allow work in the u/c bay to be carried out. It would stay in this position all the time the a/c was on the ground. It was then part of a see off to check the tee handle was stowed and flush ( our heroes would also check it on their walk around). During maintenance though and doing gear retractions it was quite common to have the doors open with the nose gear retracted to check clearances. In these circumstances door jack gags should have been fitted. I would own up myself though to having retracted the gear, pulled the tee handle for a peer into the bay before resetting it, basically opening then closing the doors. When working on the NWS system there was also a check to steer off, select up and make sure the gear steered to 0 degrees before retracting. In this case the nose u/c ground lock would be fitted to stop the leg actually moving. The thing I can’t remember is whether it was a faulty valve or practice that caused the incident. The valves and their rigging had an issue and caused a number of state 2’s when tee handles that looked flush on take off left the doors open causing a nose gear unlocked indication. I could go on for ages about the through life issues of the door and u/c rigging of the Harrier........but I would bore all other than true Harrier Mafia chaps!
One final thing, it’s still criminal that such an iconic aircraft will be missing from the 100 Year Flypast, considering that the USMC are extending the life of theirs due to other platforms shortcomings!
One final thing, it’s still criminal that such an iconic aircraft will be missing from the 100 Year Flypast, considering that the USMC are extending the life of theirs due to other platforms shortcomings!
Although criminal, there’s a small sliver of silver lining in that a few of our hovering hero’s will be in the flypast on the 10th, one will be flying another great Hawker design, the Hurricane.
