Soldato
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They still sound awesome though!
Goodbye Harrier old friend
- Thread starter TheMightyTen
- Start date
They still sound awesome though!
Sadly, it wont, as no-one will be flying it.
A sad day, both in terms of technology and for defence. We've lost a superbly capable machine, and kept a one-trick-pony, with a very old and out of date trick.
It's sad to see them go
I remember during the 80's that a Russian Air Force general (air corps) wanted them for the maneuverability and VTOL functionality during the breakaway republic revolutions. It was a long the lines that they could be launched on motorways, spring from out of nowhere and take the enemy by complete surprise. Wish I had a link to that somewhere. Soo long ago, pretty sure it was on TV though.
[OPPINION]
When you think about the technology that went into the craft, the creme de la creme of British engineering of the 60s, all the capabilities and the fact out enemies wanted to arm themselves with our kit; it gives you a form of pride that 40 years on that reputation is still going on and no newer craft has managed to outclass it.
The Eurofighter is great and all, but all the Tranche releases are killing it. It's a more software based craft as opposed to the Harrier's hardware based design. When you think about a firmware design for a military aircraft; alarm bells just start ringing. At least for me anyways, china could easily "defeat" the Eurofighter on the ground.
[/OPPINION]
I remember during the 80's that a Russian Air Force general (air corps) wanted them for the maneuverability and VTOL functionality during the breakaway republic revolutions. It was a long the lines that they could be launched on motorways, spring from out of nowhere and take the enemy by complete surprise. Wish I had a link to that somewhere. Soo long ago, pretty sure it was on TV though.
[OPPINION]
When you think about the technology that went into the craft, the creme de la creme of British engineering of the 60s, all the capabilities and the fact out enemies wanted to arm themselves with our kit; it gives you a form of pride that 40 years on that reputation is still going on and no newer craft has managed to outclass it.
The Eurofighter is great and all, but all the Tranche releases are killing it. It's a more software based craft as opposed to the Harrier's hardware based design. When you think about a firmware design for a military aircraft; alarm bells just start ringing. At least for me anyways, china could easily "defeat" the Eurofighter on the ground.
[/OPPINION]
I don't want to say anything against the Harrier, I love it, but I think what you saw was most likely pro-western propaganda. The USSR didn't need harriers because they had the Yak-38 which was similar (faster but less manoeuvrable while hovering) and in the 1980's they wouldn't have said anything good about the harriers because the Yak-141 (a supersonic vtol fighter that outclassed even today's harriers) was imminent (it was flying in 1987 but the project was cancelled in 1991 after budget related delays).
My bad, the only reason I remember it was because it was such a shock to me to hear it from the great Russian bear.
Water was more of a problem... They can hover for approx 10 mins but it will run out of water before that...The engine gets seriously hot in the hover as there is no Air cooling..
The verticle take off or landing was rarely used in a combat situation as the Aircraft is incredibly vulnerable when hovering and is unable to take any fast evasive action..
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Man of Honour
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- 1 Aug 2004
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And the F-35 replacement is still 10 years away ?
It's certainly going to be quieter around here now. I live in Oakham which is just a couple of miles from Cottesmore and right under the flight path. I wanted to go up there today but was stuck at work all day
I'd sometimes go up there in the summer and park on the little B road that is just a few yards from the end of the runway and watch them flying around
Quick photo from a couple of years ago
I'd sometimes go up there in the summer and park on the little B road that is just a few yards from the end of the runway and watch them flying around
Quick photo from a couple of years ago
Associate
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2005
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- 1,595
When it comes down to it, was this version of the Harrier (which isn't 41 years old, by the way, nor a completely British design, probably < 50%) any good as a ground attack platform?
I've read many stories about problems with engine thrust in conditions of dry heat and an inability to carry and recover usuable munitions quantities. There were also some pretty damning stories about their ineffectiveness in Afghanistan.
Couple that with the fact they're a nightmare to maintain and fly (for both ground and aircrews) and you have a weapon which has probably reached its sell-by date.
Even though a novel piece of kit, I do think retiring them now is the right decision.
I've read many stories about problems with engine thrust in conditions of dry heat and an inability to carry and recover usuable munitions quantities. There were also some pretty damning stories about their ineffectiveness in Afghanistan.
Couple that with the fact they're a nightmare to maintain and fly (for both ground and aircrews) and you have a weapon which has probably reached its sell-by date.
Even though a novel piece of kit, I do think retiring them now is the right decision.
It's certainly going to be quieter around here now. I live in Oakham which is just a couple of miles from Cottesmore and right under the flight path. I wanted to go up there today but was stuck at work all day
I'd sometimes go up there in the summer and park on the little B road that is just a few yards from the end of the runway and watch them flying around
Quick photo from a couple of years ago
I come from up the road in Corby and it used to be a great sight watching them fly low level over the farmland behind school during the boring lessons
It pains me to say it but the Harrier was made into what it is by the Americans. We designed and built the original but the new Harriers are so much different to the originals. Without the American influence and money the Harrier would have died out a long time ago.
I always think it's so sad to see something like that go. All the workmanship, technology and skill that has gone into making them all wasted. Like seeing a nice car scrapped.
I don't think I could ever see that happen to an Apache, that would actually make me cry
I don't think I could ever see that happen to an Apache, that would actually make me cry
I always think it's so sad to see something like that go. All the workmanship, technology and skill that has gone into making them all wasted. Like seeing a nice car scrapped.
I don't think I could ever see that happen to an Apache, that would actually make me cry
It has no real use anymore. The Typhoon and for as long as they last Tornado do a much better job. They dont need them on the new carriers as they will have catapults..
Its sad but its been known a while in the Raf that the Harrier was likely to go...
Also makes me sad to think of what we have let our forces be reduced to. Many years ago we had a policy of having more ships that the two biggest navies put together- now this. I know that is a horribly outdated policy but I really hate the fact we are practically disarming ourselves of some of the things we used to pride ourselves on.