Tag Archives: AV-8A Harrier

Jump Jets in the Jungle

Posted on by One comment

One of the first expeditionary deployments for the RAF’s early Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1As was in 1975 when the Crown colony of Belize– the last continental possession of the United Kingdom in the Americas– was threatened by events in neighboring Guatemala. In response, a six-pack of Harriers from No. 1 Squadron was sent to Belize international airport at Ladyville in November 1975, from where they operated for six months before returning to Europe.

A Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1A of No. 1 Sqn in the very muddy conditions at Ladyville in November 1975. This real-world deployment was only six years after No. 1 became the world’s first operator of a V/STOL combat aircraft. (RAF photo).

The half-dozen Harriers returned in July 1977, escorted from the UK with the support of ten Victor tankers, along with 1st Bn, Queen’s Regiment for ground support.

This, from the AP archive, shows Harrier hides at the time.

The Harriers would remain there for the next 16 years until 1993, first as HarDetBelize and then after 1980 as No. 1417 (Tactical Ground Attack) Flight RAF, upgrading to GR3s and GR5s over time. This occurred even as Belize gained its independence in 1981 and the Harrier had its baptism of fire the next year in the Falklands– also in the Americas. 

Six aircraft strong, the Belize Harriers would alternate locations between 10 prepared and dispersed camouflaged hides, numbered Alfa through Juliet in the NATO phonetic alphabet.

Royal Air Force Harrier GR3 of No. 1417 Flight RAF at Golf hide revetment, RAF Belize 1990

Two crashed while deployed to Belize while one, GR.3 No ZD669, endures there on display at Ladyville.

Speaking of jump jets on display, I was ecstatic to find possibly the best collection of Harriers in the world last week at Pima, where I saw just about the whole history of the type lined up.

They have an early Navy Hawker Siddeley XV-6A Kestrel (64-18264), USMC TAV-8A (Bu. No. 159382), a VMA-513 (USS Tarawa) marked USMC AV-8C (Bu. No. 159241), a Royal Navy FAA 899 Squadron-marked Sea Harrier FA.2 (ZH810), an RAF 233 Operational Conversion Unit-marked GR.5 (ZD353), and an RAF No. 4 Squadron-marked GR.3 (XV804).

With less than 900 of all types produced, a single Harrier in any condition is a rare bird indeed, much less a whole line of them!

All they are missing is a rare P.1127 prototype and an AV-8B, which may be changed once the Marines retire the type.

Remember the XV-6A?

Posted on by 3 comments

While the U.S. Marine Corps would not take delivery of their first AV-8A Harriers until January 1971, over a decade had elapsed since the original Hawker P.1127 prototype first hovered in tethered flight (21 October 1960) and much ground had been covered in between.

Hawker P1127 made the first-ever vertical landing by a jet aircraft an a carrier at sea on HMS Ark Royal in February 1963. IWM A 34711

In fact, the U.S. Army, Navy, USAF, and Marines formed a joint evaluation squadron and tested a half-dozen early Harriers at sea and ashore as early as 1966, all with the idea of using the aircraft for close air support. 

We are talking about the Hawker Siddeley XV-6A Kestrel.

XV-6A aircraft in flight during evaluation test operations, May 1966. USN 1115755-A

XV-6A vertical lift off of aircraft from the deck of the USS RALEIGH (LPD-1), May 1966. USN 1115757

XV-6A aircraft lifts off flight deck of USS RALEIGH (LPD-1) during evaluation operations at sea, May 1966. USN 1115763

XV-6A aircraft touches down on board the supercarrier USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA-62) during evaluation operations, May 1966. USN 1115758-C

As noted by the NHHC: 

The 1957 design for the Hawker P.1127 was based on a French engine concept, adopted and improved upon by the British. The project was funded by the British Bristol Engine Co. and by the U.S. Government through the Mutual Weapons Development Program.

With the basic configuration of the engine largely determined and with development work under way, Hawker Aircraft Ltd. engineers directed their attention to designing a V/STOL aircraft that would use the engine. Without government/military customer support, they produced a single-engine attack-reconnaissance design that was as simple a V/STOL aircraft as could be devised. Other than the engine’s swivelling nozzles, the reaction control system was the only complication in the effort to provide V/STOL capability.

The initial P.1127 was rolled out in the summer of 1960, by which time RAF interest in the aircraft had finally resulted in funding by the British Government for the two prototypes. First hovers in the fall were made with a severely stripped airplane. This was due to the fact that the first Pegasus engines were cleared for flight at just over 11,000 pounds thrust.

With potential NATO and other foreign interest in the P.1127, four additional airplanes were ordered to continue development.

As the project proceeded into the early sixties international interest in V/STOL tactical aircraft led to an agreement to conduct a tripartite operation, with the United Kingdom, West Germany and the United States sharing equally in development and evaluation. Nine P.1127s were ordered and designated Kestrel F.G.A. 1s in the RAF name system. A number of major configuration changes were incorporated in it although the basic concept remained unchanged. Within the United States it was a tri-service venture (Army, Navy, Air Force) with the Army functioning as the lead service. However, the final interservice agreement later transferred responsibility for this category of aircraft to the Air Force.

Following completion of the operational evaluation in the United Kingdom, six of the Kestrels were shipped to the United States in 1966, designated XV-6As. Here they underwent national trials, including shipboard tests. Two subsequently served in a research role with NASA.

The tripartite British, West German, and American roundel of the original test P.1127s

In the end, the Army bowed out and kept the OV-1 Mohawk in service for a generation–augmented by the new AH-1 Cobra for close air support. The Air Force walked away and would go on to develop the A-10 Warthog. The Navy let the Marines go ahead– with the prospect of using Harriers in a sea control role if needed. 

Four of the six American XV-6As are preserved in the states while a fifth was sent back “home” to be preserved in England.

XS694 (NASA 520) XS689 (NASA 521)