Armada EAV-8B Harrier II PLus (Matador) pair at RIAT 2019
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Armada EAV-8B Harrier II PLus (Matador) pair at RIAT 2019
Even though one is converted to 35 nowadays, it was refreshing to see the Harrier back in the UK, albeit pair of Spanish Armada EAV-8B harrier II PLus or Matadors as they fondly called them since the AV-8A days. Beforehand they made appearence at Yeovilton Air Day (laughingly reminds me of James Bond thriller Win Lose or Die involving air to air between Bond and rogue Spanish Navy exchange pilot in SHAR).
So here are my photos of pair of EAV-8B Harrier II Plus from saturday.
Cheers
So here are my photos of pair of EAV-8B Harrier II Plus from saturday.
Cheers
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Good to see, there is still one UK Harrier that can and does taxy under her own steam...
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And the associated hazard of having an open canopy is ... ?
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Isn’t it funny that our NATO nations are still using aircraft now gone from the UK inventory and are at RIAT - Tornado, Harrier, Phantom. All still going strong (just!).
Nice to see the whistling sub-sonic plastic pig, but even nicer to see the F35B (albeit very briefly!).
Nice to see the whistling sub-sonic plastic pig, but even nicer to see the F35B (albeit very briefly!).
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It was always wise to have your elbow hard against the open canopy just in case rapid braking or EMERG braking sent it crashing forward unrestrained.
I seem to recall that on taxy out most folk were happy to have the seat live with canopy back (although it did surprise me when I first saw it done) as the signal to start was that all pins were removed...and therefore to safe up and rearm was a potential pigz waiting to happen. Best to keep it live and just ‘not eject’ until you’d closed the canopy.
You had to make seat and canopy safe prior to shutdown anyway so I think it was done in the ‘after landers’ and one could therefore taxy around looking ‘cool as’ and wave to the assembled adoring masses.
I seem to recall that on taxy out most folk were happy to have the seat live with canopy back (although it did surprise me when I first saw it done) as the signal to start was that all pins were removed...and therefore to safe up and rearm was a potential pigz waiting to happen. Best to keep it live and just ‘not eject’ until you’d closed the canopy.
You had to make seat and canopy safe prior to shutdown anyway so I think it was done in the ‘after landers’ and one could therefore taxy around looking ‘cool as’ and wave to the assembled adoring masses.
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They did get a functioning gunpod in lieu. Seemed to use the 25mm operationally strafing targets. Did any second generation AV-8B/Harrier II get air-to-air kills with Sidewinder?
Loved that smoke on full power. Nice to see them hover and hear that sustained noise.
What was the time limit for hovering again? 2-3mins? I didn't notice any injection of water into the intake for cooling, or i may have missed it completely.
What was the time limit for hovering again? 2-3mins? I didn't notice any injection of water into the intake for cooling, or i may have missed it completely.
What lovely photos - thanks to those who posted them.
Brings a serious tear to the eye that we have our Spanish colleagues to remind us of our heritage with this aircraft and what we should now still be doing with it if not for the sad decisions of our politicians and others who decided wrongly - in my opinion - to get rid of what was a great machine with great flexible capabilities at the peak of its development.
Well done to the RIAT folk for getting them there.
I wish I had been there to see and hear it.
Brings a serious tear to the eye that we have our Spanish colleagues to remind us of our heritage with this aircraft and what we should now still be doing with it if not for the sad decisions of our politicians and others who decided wrongly - in my opinion - to get rid of what was a great machine with great flexible capabilities at the peak of its development.
Well done to the RIAT folk for getting them there.
I wish I had been there to see and hear it.
Perhaps, being a vintage airframe, the seat and canopy are not live therefore the pilot decided that his best means of rapid exit in the event of a ground incident was to leave the canopy open?
Unless he includes something which would be of direct benefit to him and him alone, I doubt whether the blustering oaf would bother...