Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>Harrier>HA2609
AV-8B Harrier US Marines VMA-542 "Tigers"
General Background
The Harrier is the first operational V/STOL (Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft. By directing the engines exhaust through movable nozzles the force could be used to propel the aircraft along a runway or lift it vertically and then into a forward motion. Because of this ability to lift off vertically the Harriers began to be referred to as “jump jets”. These aircraft were continuously being refined and improved over the years with many new variants being produced.
The Aircraft
In April 1986 the USMC VMA-542 (Tigers) transitioned from the earlier Harriers to the AV-8B+.
This gave the squadron a greater V/STOL capability as well as extending the range and
increasing the payload. The most up to date navigation and weapon delivery systems were
also incorporated.VMA-542 was initially commissioned on March 6, 1944 as VMF(N)-542. The
“Tigers” are based at MCAS Cherry Point North Carolina and are tasked with providing
offensive and defensive air support and reconnaissance for Marine expeditionary forces. The
542nd has participated in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Kosovo and
Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007-8.
Specifications :
| Developed by: | Boeing, BAE Systems, and Rolls Royce |
| Operators: | USMC, Italian Navy, Spanish Navy |
| Crew: | (1) pilot |
| Performance | |
| Powerplant: | (1) Rolls-Royce Pegasus 11-61 (F402-RR-408) (Mk 105) vectored-thrust turbofan engine, 23,500 lbf (105 kN) |
| Maximum speed @ sea level: | .89 Mach (662 mph) (1,070 km/h) |
| Range: | 1,200 nm (1,400 mi) (2,200 km) |
| Combat radius: | 300 nmi (556 km) |
| Ferry range: | 1,800 nmi (3,300 km) |
| Rate of climb: | 14,700 ft/min (4,485 m/min) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length: | 46 ft 4 in (14.12 m) |
| Height: | 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m) |
| Wingspan: | 30 ft 4 in (9.25 m) |
| Wing area | 243 ft² (22.6 m²) |
| Weights | |
| Empty: | 13,968 lb (6,340 kg) |
| Loaded: | 22,950 lb (10,410 kg) |
| Maximum Takeoff : | Rolling / 31,000 lb (14,100 kg) |
| Vertical / 20,755 lb (9,415 kg) | |
| Armament | |
| Guns | (1) X GAU-12U "Equalizer" 25 mm (0.98 in) cannon with 300 rounds of ammunition. |
| Hardpoints | (7) capable of carrying up to 13,200 lb (STOVL) of ordnance such as iron bombs, cluster bombs, napalm canisters, laser-guided bombs, AGM-65 Maverick or AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, Sea Eagle missiles, a LITENING targeting pod, up to (4) AIM- 9 Sidewinder or similar-sized infrared-guided missiles, up to (4) AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, as well as new “Smart Weapons” such as JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition). |
| Avionics | Raytheon APG-65 pulse Doppler radar |