Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>Harrier>HA2618

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

AV-8B 162731 was delivered to VMA-542 in 1986 and later assigned to VMA-331 “Bumble Bees” then in the 1990s went to VMAT-203. In January 2000 work was completed on the 31st remanufactured jet by using the wings, tail and a few other components from 162731 and joining them with a new fuselage, engine and other parts to create AV8 Harrier II + 165421. In February 2000 the new jet was delivered to VMA-214 “Black Sheep” of Pappy Boyington fame based at MCAS Yuma, Arizona.

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