Quick Harrier Question

[TLAM Strike]

Were the FRS.1 or GR3 Harriers fitted with the refueling probe during the Falklands War? :hmmm:

[Oberon]

Refueling probes were used by the second batch of Sea Harriers whilst they flew down to the Falklands. These Aircraft were 809NAS, were Medium Sea Grey finish, and were very uniform.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/theplasticsurgeon/ModelPlanes/SeaHarrier/Esci_SeaHarrier_1.jpg
The probes were removed, and aircraft given names and other grafiti, once they were on the carriers.
Probes were not used on the Extra Dark Sea Grey planes, transited on the carriers.
Model is an Esci kit, depicted on its way to the Falklands - so that I could use the Hasegawa RFprobe.
Don't know why it turned out B/W though!

http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=159350


It might have been a Falklands development, I can't remember now, but some additional SHARs & GR3 flew about 8-9 hour stretches to get to Hermes & it couldn't have been done without AAR. (incidently for the RAF GR3 pilots that was their first ever deck landing at sea!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=733034

Six modified GR.3s and eight Sea Harriers flew to Ascension Island where they were loaded on board a containership, eventually joining the task force on 18 May. Before the hostilities ended, four additional modified GR.3s reached the task force after in-flight refueling by Victor tanker aircraft.

http://www.airpower.au.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj89/spr89/udemi.html

Also:

http://grandlogistics.blogspot.com/2011/02/lessons-of-falklands-war.html


I think the conclusion is that the first wave might not have done (although one would have thought they'd have to AAR on the way to Ascension Island) because they had to be shipped to the fleet from Ascension by container vessel. However a second group which made the trip down to the Task Force by AAR alone certainly did.

[Oberon]

Here's a random bit of Harrier news I stumbled on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhsifSKa8jQ

And the old trainer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opyrH3JtXDM

I remember reading a book by one of the guys who worked on the simulator when they were building it, and in the early days they used to have gaps between the boards of the model which this guy used to entertain himself by flying down. Then one day one of the simulator boffins put a dead spider in the gap which was then magnified on the simulator which resulted in a Harrier colliding with a two hundred foot spider corpse :lol:

[Oberon]

http://studysupport.info/bob6.png
Harriers being prepped at Ascension Island for Operation Corporate.

[TLAM Strike]

Great info, continuation of my question, would these have been removed once they arrived on the carrier?

BTW This info is because I'm building the 1/72 scale Hasegawa SHAR and GR3, (plus the Super Etendard, Mirage, and Seahawk.)

[Raptor1]

One of Oberon's quotes says that...

The probes were removed, and aircraft given names and other grafiti, once they were on the carriers.Which would make sense. I'd imagine that those things would have an impact on the aircraft's performance and so wouldn't be fitted unless really necessary...

[TLAM Strike]

One of Oberon's quotes says that... D'oh I see that now. :haha:

[Oberon]

Great info, continuation of my question, would these have been removed once they arrived on the carrier?

BTW This info is because I'm building the 1/72 scale Hasegawa SHAR and GR3, (plus the Super Etendard, Mirage, and Seahawk.)

This thread might help you:

http://armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=103430#855679

[TLAM Strike]

This thread might help you:

http://armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=103430#855679

Bookmarked. Thanks again. :salute:

EDIT: I just wish I had a decent camera... :(