Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>Harrier>HA4102
British Sea Harrier FA.2 ZD615/OEU-712, No. 899 Naval Air Sqn., HMS Invincible, Bosnia Conflict, 1994
General Background
The BAe Sea Harrier FRS1 first entered service with the Royal Navy in April 1980. The aircraft is a naval VTOL/VSTOL jet fighter designed for reconnaissance and attack roles. In 1993 an improved variant of the Sea Harrier was produced as the FA.2 with a more powerful engine, improved air-to-air capabilities and weapons options. The FA.2 was produced until 1998 and continued in service until 2006 when it was replaced by the Harrier GR9. 56 FA.2 Sea Harriers were produced for the Royal Navy.
The Aircraft
FRS1 ZD615 joined the Royal Navy P3 on June 19, 1986. In August 1993 ZD615 was converted to an FA.2 and assigned to HMS Invincible that periodically deployed in support of the conflict in Bosnia and Operation Deny Flight. In 2002 ZD615 went into storage for over 3 years before being fully restored. In 2009 the aircraft was sold and displayed at an energy company's office in Calgary Canada before becoming a lawn ornament at the home of the energy company's president in Red Deer Alberta Canada.
Specifications :
| Crew: | 1 X pilot |
| Dimensions | |
| Length: | 46 ft. 6 in. (14.2 m) |
| Wingspan: | 25 ft. 3 in. (7.6 m) |
| Height: | 12 ft. 2 in. (3.71 m) |
| Wing Area: | 201.1 ft². (18.68 m²) |
| Performance | |
| Power Plant: | 1 X Rolls-Royce Pegasus turbofan producing 21,500 lbf (95.64 kN) |
| Maximum Speed: | 735 mph (635 kt. / 1,182 km/h) |
| Combat Radius: | 620 mi. (540 nmi. / 1,000 km) |
| Ferry Range: | 2,000 mi. (1,740 nmi. / 3,600 km) |
| Service Ceiling: | 51,000 ft. (16,000 m) |
| Rate Of Climb: | 50,000 ft./min. (250 m/s) |
| Weights | |
| Empty: | 14,052 lb. (6,374 kg) |
| Maximum Take-Off: | 26,200 lb. (11,900 kg) |
| Armament | |
| Guns: | 2 X 30 mm (1.18 in.) ADEN cannon pods under the fuselage – 130 rounds each |
| Hardpoints: | 2 X auxiliary drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time |
| 4 X under-wing pylon | |
| 1 X fuselage center-line pylon + 2 X attach points for gun pods capable of carrying 8,000lb (3,630 kg) | |
| Rockets: | 4 X Mantra rocket pods capable of carrying 18 X SNEB 68 mm rockets each |
| Missiles: | (1) X GAU-12U "Equalizer" 25 mm (0.98 in) cannon with 300 rounds of ammunition. |
| Air-To-Air | |
| AIM-9 Sidewinder missile | |
| AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) (pronounced "am-ram") | |
| Air-To-Surface | |
| ALARM (ARM) anti-radiation missile | |
| Martel (ARM) anti-radiation missile | |
| Anti-ship | |
| Sea Eagle missile | |
| Bombs | |
| Numerous types of unguided bombs |