Andy/DZ,

To post a photo:

First you need to have the photo hosted online - photobucket (www.photobucket.com) is where I keep mine (there is no cost - either that or they don't know how to bill me).

Then, when posting the photo here:

In the message composition window, click on the second icon in from the right (next to the speech bubble)
A pop-up window then appears here asking you to enter the location of your image.

To prepare for this, you will have see on your photobucket page a box saying 'direct link'. You'll have copied that link, and you then paste it into the pop up window (taking care not to duplicate the 'http' that's already there, and ensuring that '[IMG]' and [\IMG] don't appear at the start and end (if you've copied the direct link, you won't get this).

Once done, press 'OK'.

So, I have an image at http://img.photobucket...11-03067b.jpg (I've cropped this to fit this window).

So - I click on the image icon and the box opens.

I now (I'm pretending since having the box open stops me from typing in the message pane), and paste the URL in.

And <does it for real> Voila!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...-11-03067b.jpg

I flew trials with the Sea Eagle strapped onto the side of a Seaking in 1985 up at West Freugh...all part of some trials for the Indian Navy...... Far too heavy and cumbersome.....But I think they bought it

And how many Sea Eagles did a CVS hold in its magazines (or whatever the navy call them??) when fulled loaded for war??

On average 30.

Sea Eagle
 

OK I'll have a go at posting some pics' - as my father who also worked WITH J.F, was from near Aberdeen, the 'free' bit particularly impresses me.

1st try...thanks for the tips Archimedes ( even if I cock it up ) and nice shot by the way !

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...assymetric.jpg

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...rleyfly-by.jpg

Though not ideal, with all power to the Dilithium crystals these links hopefully show G-VTOL hovering with a real Sea Eagle, tank & 1000lb bomb,

( the dodgy looking hair on the shot is I'm afraid original, kindly supplied by Kingston Photo', quite possibly deliberately, strange how my best shots got 'lost' - then again the previously Old Etonian style printer later suddenly decided he was Scottish, with wierd accent to boot; we had space for such types in those days ! ).

Next shot a certain C.T.P. J.Farley at around 30', 300+ knots in an FRS1; he did this for me four times, ( six if you include his earlier passes in G-VTOL with Dick Wise ) as my Hasselblad only gave one shot per pass - a chap next to me tried using a motor driven 35mm at 5 frames per second & only got wing-tips.

Thanks John !

John Sweeney & the rest of ATC, a good lot in those days ( I was on their balcony, presumably where goofers for 'Top Gear' gather now ) were reduced to sitting laughing in their chairs, they'd never seen anything like it - and I would emphasize there was a total feeling of safety & control, VERY unlike other dramatic flying I've seen by other pilots, sometimes with a sadly predictable end...

Vec'

I vaguely remember an idea of hanging Sea Eagles on helo's, but I'm not surprised you thought it heavy for such an aircraft - what about launch velocity / engine start, did it need rocket boosters ?

I was talked over the weapon ( & have the tie, what more proof could there be ?! ) and it was a generation or two ahead of Exocet - might still be going if we'd got some person regarded naughty blown up with one.

Now I say that, I can think of a certain group of UK service people who might have appreciated a Sea Harrier, with the options of guns & Sea Eagle, handy quite recently ! Yes WEBF " help yourself there's plenty of trade for everyone !"

No stranger to the 'Freugh, spent months at a time there ( many a happy time at the Crown Hotel, PortPatrick ) - the photo' unit were a good bunch, I hope Kenny & the rest have found good homes; I understand it's a range only, no landing or hosting aircraft now.

You probably know the place was modelled on Penemunde, complete with nabbed Nazi kit - the kine-theodolite camera cupolas had painted-over embossed swastikas !

As of 22:30 local on 12/3 we have Seajet XZ439 back in our home hangar. Had to disassemble and reassemble a section of fence around the local airport (lucky I have those skills too):O We plan to get her up on jacks Saturday 12/8. Damage is looking minimal. but will know more later. keep looking to nallsaviation.com for updates and when I'm not too tired I'll post an update here.
To all who support us THANK YOU!!!!:D:D:D
We will get her back in the air, your words of encouragement are passed to all team members and we are pressing forward:ok:

FEBA
 

Does anyone know what happened to User FEBA? :confused:

Sea Harrier range/fuel/endurance
 

Request some clarification on Sea Harrier fuel burn/endurance. Fully understand the variances of throttle setting, altitude, stores, etc. but looking for some general figures:
Best endurance speed?
Total Flight time with 120 US gallon tanks? With 225 gallon tanks? I recall sources stating that an FRS.1 could do 1.5 hour loiter some 150 miles from mother, but is that optomistic? Seems longish FRS.1 Falkland Island sorties seldom excceded 90 total minutes.
Fuel burn rates. PPM at cruise?

I thought they used smaller drop tanks in 82. The larger ones were introduced to help offset that problem.

seajet tanks
 

Correct as usual !

The orignal FRS1 carried 100 gal drop tanks, but as soon as the Falklands started, an urgent mod' scheme ( probably already on a back-burner project ) was put into effect to convert the tanks to 190 gals - these were made up feverishly night & day & sent down south.

There is some doubt the modified tanks reached the Seajets before it was all over.

Suggest you try a search engine & put in the aircraft name, UK, & you'll get more data than you can possibly want.

In peace-time non-taking things to risky levels test flights, 45 mins was about average, though one thing to bear in mind is that due to the nature of the Pegasus, one can to an extent hang any stores or ask almost full throttle, and fuel consumption doesn't vary as much as other aircraft - it just guzzles along ignoring drag anyway !

That's as I understand it - please correct me if I'm wrong as usual and you're reading this, John !

Sandiego

Is correct re the FRS1 (and AV-8A and C) tank size. The devil is in the units. Keep checking chaps.

JF

Mr. Farley,

It's a terrible feeling being taunted by someone who not only obviously knows a lot more, but is then b---dy enigmatic about it !

I know what you mean about units of measure - was my vague description of the Harrier's stores / performance capability anywhere near right ?

If not it's all Flight Test's fault, naturally; they told me all that - then again they were world class wind-up merchants, possibly out for revenge for some of my incriminating photo's...

DZ

DZ

Well perhaps I got it wrong. I thought you were agreeing that the FI tanks were smaller than those quoted by sandiego.

His 120 US = 100 UK

JF

J.F,

I thought I'd mentioned your point re. the US /UK gal' conversion; all I was asking was, as I was told, the Harrier doesn't really mind what stores one hangs on it, it'll do pretty much the same re. fuel consumption / airspeed limits anyway ?

Handling being something else ...

DZ

Today is six years on from me registering on PPRuNe. It was the issue of the Sea Harrier (well actually that of pilots leaving due to the takeover by JFH and the move to Cott/Witt) that led me to follow the link from the late Lord Garden's website.

Never in a million years did I think it would be scrapped then suddenly...... it was on PPRuNe I first heard the rumours then the news. Some of the chickens are coming home to roost already.

If only they had kept the Status Quo.

OK, I've said everything I had to say on this subject already, but I wanted an excuse to post the link to the video.

WEBF

With JSF due in service probably by 2016 at the earliest, can we expect you to go on beating the same drum for another 8 years......?!


To the more rational amongst you.......I know, my fault for visiting the thread!

Like I said, the main reason for my previous post was to include a link to the video of Jam Side Down.

Another link that I meant to include, but forgot, was this discussion regarding the preservation of HMS Invincible. It would appear that some effort is being made to prevent her from simply rotting. In reality I expect that oft quoted "eighteen months" to put her back into service is as much about manning issues as her material state.

I suspect we will be short of carrier aircraft (particularly for air defence should it be required) before needing a third CVS.

At least some Sea Harriers have also been retained for training purposes by the MOD instead of being scrapped or sold, and unlike Invincible are unlikely to have been cannibalised......

Some Shars bound for India.

Here

I wonder what took them so long, and only 4 ? The same reason I don't have an Aston Martin I guess.

The search for spares might not be as easy as first seems - the UK was scoured for Harrier 1 spares for the Indian T4I project - including gate guardians ! Hopefully there will be FA2 spares as they were just about still operating then. A lot of FA2's seem either battered or robbed now though, from what I've seen.

I am a great fan of the Indian Navy Seajet operators, after dealing with their team sent over here for the initial project - but I do hope they leave enough for anything Art Nalls needs for XZ439 !

Come to think of it, a pile of spares for the VAAC Harrier would still seem a good idea - so what are the chances we'll be buying Harrier 1 bits back at twice the price sometime ?!