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AV-8A Harrier
| AV-8A/C/S Harrier | |
|---|---|
| Type | VTOL strike aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Hawker Siddeley |
| Maiden flight | 28 December 1967 (Harrier) |
| Primary users | United States Marine Corps Spanish Navy Royal Thai Navy |
| Produced | 1967 - 197? |
| Number built | 718 [1] |
| Developed from | Hawker Siddeley Harrier |
| Variants | AV-8B Harrier II |
The Hawker Siddeley AV-8A/C/S Harrier was, along with the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first generation of the Harrier series, the first operational close-support and reconnaissance fighter aircraft with V/STOL capabilities. The Harrier was the only truly successful V/STOL design of the many that arose from the 1960s. The Harrier was extensively redeveloped as the BAE Harrier II and AV-8B Harrier II, which were built by British Aerospace/BAE Systems and McDonnell Douglas.
Contents
Design and development
The AV-8As of the United States Marine Corps were very similar to the early GR.1 version, but with the more-powerful engine of the GR.3. The aircraft was powered by a 21,500 lbf (95.6 kN) thrust Roll-Royce Pegasus Mk 103 (F402-RR-402) turbofan engine. One hundred and thirteen aircraft were ordered for the US Marines and the Spanish Navy. The AV-8A was armed with two 30-mm ADEN cannon pods under the fuselage, and two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
The Harrier was also a very manoeuverable and a potent air-to-air fighter, being able to out-manoeuvre any other fighter aircraft then in service.[citation needed] The air combat technique of vectoring in forward flight, or viffing, was formally developed by the USMC in the Harrier to outmaneuver a hostile aircraft or other inbound weapons.[2][3]
Controls and handling
- Further information: Harrier Jump Jet#Controls and handling
Operational history
The AV-8As of the US Marine Corps were very similar to the early GR.1 version, but with the engine of the GR.3. 113 aircraft were ordered for the US Marines and the Spanish Navy. The AV-8A was armed with two 30-mm ADEN cannon pods under the fuselage, and two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The aircraft was powered by a 21,500 lbf (95.6 kN) thrust Roll-Royce Pegasus Mk 103 turbofan engine. It was also a very manoeuverable and a potent air-to-air fighter, being able to out-manoeuvre any other fighter aircraft then in service.[citation needed] The air combat technique of vectoring in forward flight, or viffing, was developed by the USMC in the Harrier to outmaneuver a hostile aircraft or other inbound weapons.[4][5]
Variants
- AV-8A Harrier
Single-seat ground-attack, close air support, reconnaissance fighter aircraft; similar to the early GR.1 version, but with the engine of the GR.3. 113 aircraft were ordered for the US Marines. Company designation was the Harrier Mk 50.
- AV-8C
Upgraded AV-8A aircraft for the US Marine Corps.
- AV-8S Matador
Export version of the AV-8A Harrier for the Spanish Navy. Later sold to the Royal Thai Navy. Spanish Navy designation VA-1 Matador. Company designation Harrier Mk 53 for the first production batch, and Harrier Mk 55 for the second batch.
- TAV-8A Harrier
Two-seater training version for the US Marine Corps. The TAV-8A Harrier was powered by a 21,500-lb Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk 103 turbofan engine. Company designation Harrier Mk 54.
- TAV-8S Matador
Export version of the TAV-8A Harrier for the Spanish Navy. Later sold to the Royal Thai Navy. Spanish Navy designation VAE-1 Matador. Company designation Harrier Mk 54.
Operators
- Spanish Navy
- No. 008 Escuadrilla - AV-8S and TAV-8S Matador
- Royal Thai Navy
- Squadron 1 Wing3 (HTMS Chakri Naruebet Flying Unit) - AV-8S and TAV-8S
Specifications (Harrier AV-8A)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 45 ft 7 in (13.90 m)
- Wingspan: 25 ft 3 in (7.70 m)
- Height: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
- Wing area: 201 ft² (18.68 m²)
- Empty weight: 12,190 lb (5,530 kg)
- Loaded weight: 17,260 lb (7,830 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 25,350 lb (11,500 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Pegasus 101 turbofan with four swivelling nozzles, 19,000 lbf (84.5 kN) Four vertical flight puffer jets use engine bleed air, mounted in the nose, wingtips, and tail, and provide up to 1,000 lbf (4 kN) of thrust.
Performance
- Maximum speed: 735 mph (Mach 0.97) (1,185 km/h)
- Range: 1200 mi (1900 km)
- Combat radius: 260 mi (418 km) on strike mission without drop tanks (hi-lo-hi)
- Service ceiling: 49,200 ft (15,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 2 min 23 sec to 40,000 ft or initial climb (VTOL weight) 50,000ft/min (15,240 m/min[6])
- Thrust/weight: 1.10
Armament
- 2x 30 mm ADEN cannon pods under the fuselage
- A variety of bombs, reconnaissance pods, AS-37 Martel or AIM-9D guided missiles on five hardpoints.
Popular culture
The Harrier's unique characteristics have led to it being featured a number of films and video games.
References
- ↑ http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=609 British Aircraft Directory
- ↑ Nordeen, pp. 33-34.
- ↑ Spick, Mike; Bill Gunston (2000). The Great Book of Modern Warplanes. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing Company, 382-383. ISBN 0-7603-0893-4.
- ↑ Nordeen, pp. 33-34.
- ↑ Spick, Mike; Bill Gunston (2000). The Great Book of Modern Warplanes. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing Company, 382-383. ISBN 0-7603-0893-4.
- ↑ Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Warfare Today, by Bill Gunston, Mike Spick (New York: Crescent Books, 1983) p. 84.
External Links
Related Content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
- Hawker Hunter - P.1127/Kestrel - Harrier - Nimrod - Hawk
- U.S. Military: ← A-5 - A-6 - A-7 - AV-8 - YA-9 - A-10 - A-12
- U.S. Military: ← XV-5 - XV-6 - CV-7 - XV-8/AV-8 - XV-9 - OV-10 - XV-11 →
See also
- Harrier, an overview of the Harrier family
Template:Harrier variants Template:US STOL and VTOL aircraft
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| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hawker Siddeley Harrier". |
