48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Communal photo threads for specific aircraft types, operators etc.
rebel14
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48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by rebel14 »

As it's almost ten years since the RAF retired the Harrier, I want to see your best shots of this iconic aircraft. Anything from GR1s to GR9s, twin sticks and test aircraft, so it has to have a UK serial but no Royal Navy. Clear? Good, then get posting😁

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Ledhead27
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by Ledhead27 »

Unfortunately I was just a little bit late to spot the UK Harrier fleet whilst in active service, so museum pieces will have to suffice. Very much pushing the boundaries of the rules, but this has to be one of the most famous Harriers to take part during Afghanistan. ZD433, nicknamed 'Dirty Harry', it served jointly with both the RAF and 800NAS.

ImageRoyal Navy BAe Harrier GR.9A - ZD433 by ledwooddaniel, on Flickr
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capercaillie
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by capercaillie »

A GR3 arriving for the 1989 Air Fete at Mildenhall
Imageimg896 (2) by Paul Downes, on Flickr

The ripple VAAC testing at Yeovilton on behalf of its hideous replacement
ImageHarrier T4 VAAC XW175 QinetiQ Boscombe Down by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Two then RAFG 4 squadron GR7s arriving at Alconbury in 1992
Imageimg320 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
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Draken
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by Draken »

The only one I have is the one from our Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow (I live 10min walk from this amazing place).
It has really interesting history:
The Harrier GR.3 number XW 919 first flew on 23rd July 1971 and was subsequently delivered to no. 1 Squadron RAF in September 1971. It was while on duty in this unit that the plane went through a serious accident caused by a power loss in the engine. The pilot catapulted himself to safety. Subsequently the plane served in no. 4. Squadron RAF stationed at Gütersloh, Germany. Prior to its war episode, it was involved in filming BBC “Squadron” series.

The Falklands War was undoubtedly the most interesting part of this plane’s history. In early May 1982, it was rebased to Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island in the Atlantic, where it provided air cover prior to the arrival of Phantom FGR.2 aircraft. On June 8th, supported by four Handley Page Victor K.1 tanker aircraft, the Harrier accomplished an almost 8-hour flight to HMS Hermes aircraft carrier. While in flight it suffered a navigation instruments failure, however it followed its wingman to safe landing at the carrier’s deck.

On July 12th, 1982 while attacking Argentinian artillery positions on Sapper Hill with cassette bombs, XW 919 flown by Flt. Lt. Murdo McLeod came under heavy fire from 601. Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group (Grupo de Artillería Antiaérea 601 also known as GADA 601 Grupo de Artillería de Defensa Aérea 601). The plane was severely damaged by either a shrapnel or a Tigercat missile which, by the way, was of British origin. With the plane’s aft fuselage on fire, the pilot nevertheless succeeded in landing on HMS Hermes. Following the incident, the plane was sent back to Britain on MV Contender Bezant the next month.

The plane was donated by the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at Shrivenham thanks to efforts of the late gen. pil. Tadeusz Andersz.
Source - Polish Aviation Museum website

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Domvickery
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by Domvickery »

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LN Strike Eagle
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by LN Strike Eagle »

Image

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MUSTANG
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by MUSTANG »

All taken at Shuttleworth...those where the days

ImageHarrier GR7 by MUSTANG_P51, on Flickr

ImageHarrier GR7 ZD404 by MUSTANG_P51, on Flickr

ImageHarrier ZD375 by MUSTANG_P51, on Flickr

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DerekF
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by DerekF »

Difficult to choose three from so many years. Anyway, here's a few.

GR.7 ZD404 displaying at Farnborough in 1994 after a torrential downpour
Image1994255_15z by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

GR.7 ZD345 at Woodford in 1999 - with bonus Harrier displaying in the background.
Image1999342_05z by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

GR.7 ZD408 at Farnborough 2002
Image2002420_26z by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

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D90Man
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by D90Man »

Three from the final days at Cottesmore / Wittering

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Col. Chibani
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by Col. Chibani »

Unfortunately, no RAF Harrier in my archives.
I will be just enjoying your pictures for this round!

PS: the closest thing I have is this USMC AV-8A, see aboard USS Intrepid carrier, moored at New York in 1998:
ImageUSS Intrepid 003 by Colonel CHIBANI, sur Flickr

Spiny Norman
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by Spiny Norman »

Three from display performances. Starting with two of a GR.3 taking off from and more spectacularly, landing, on the airfield's grass at Leuchars.

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Harrier GR.3 take-off at RAF Leuchars airshow by N, on Flickr

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Harrier GR.3 landing on grass at RAF Leuchars airshow by N, on Flickr

(Both taken on Kodak Tri-X Pan if I remember correctly).

A few years later on a GR.7 doing its centre-stage party piece: the famous bow.

Image
RAF Harrier GR.7 bowing by N, on Flickr

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Blackbird
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by Blackbird »

Harriers through the "generations"
GR1 at Biggin Hill, 1974
ImageHawker Harrier GR1 XW923 by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

GR3 at the Gatwick Aviation Museum
Image564A9553 by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

GR7 making it's renowned bow at Biggin Hill, 2006
Image192_9243 Harrier GR7 ZD330 by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

Andy

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Wrexham Mackem
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by Wrexham Mackem »

hmm, I need to pick some Harrier shots I haven't used before. I'm going fairly old school too, sadly not as far back as the GR1, one of my earliest airshow memories sadly unphotographed,

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jalfrezi
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by jalfrezi »

Sadly, I didn't get my first DSLR until after they'd retired, so there isn't much I can add to this comp other than a few static shots.

ImageHawker Siddeley Harrier T4 - 6 by Nick Jennings, on Flickr

ImageHawker Siddeley Harrier GR3 - 7 by Nick Jennings, on Flickr

ImageBAe Harrier GR5 - 02 by Nick Jennings, on Flickr

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SuffolkBlue
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by SuffolkBlue »

Pretty much every photo I have of an RAF Harrier is in a museum, but from my very, very early days of photography, I can muster up a grainy Harrier from the Duxford September Show back in 2001.

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BAe Systems Harrier GR7 - Duxford September Airshow, IWM Duxford, Saturday 8th September 2001 by Chris Day, on Flickr

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Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3 & Hawker Siddeley Harrier T4(mod) - Cosford Airshow 2019, RAF Cosford, Sunday 9th June 2019 by Chris Day, on Flickr

And the completing the No. 4 Squadron trio at a very wet Bentwaters.
Image
Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3 - Bentwaters Cold War Museum, Monday 31st August 2015 by Chris Day, on Flickr

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Skyflash
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by Skyflash »

It seems unbelievable now, but we almost used to take Harriers for granted... you'd be at a RIAT arrivals day and these two things would appear into the circuit and you'd be like 'what the hell are th... oh, yeah, Harriers, forgot about those.'

A wonderfully charismatic aircraft, and a huge miss from the UK airshow scene in whichever guise they appeared (I personally always thought Sea Harriers were slightly cooler than their RAF counterparts...)

Image
by Gordon Duncan, on Flickr

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by Gordon Duncan, on Flickr

Image
by Gordon Duncan, on Flickr
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AndyXH558
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by AndyXH558 »

Good Subject.
This was taken with my first DSLR camera in 2006 at Kemble.
ImagePicture 372 copy by andrew abbott, on Flickr

Taken at a charity photoshoot before The harrier force was shipped out to the states to be used for parts, They are still in the bone yard.
Imagegr9retroaa1 by andrew abbott, on Flickr

A 4 Sqn harrier taking her final bow at Fairford in 2010. 4 weeks later the Government scrapped the entire Harrier force. Then suddenly needed them 2 years later when Libya went into meltdown.
Imagegr9-bow by andrew abbott, on Flickr
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PeteFenwick
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by PeteFenwick »

Trying for 3 different marks from a limited photo pool, sadly.

ImageGR7 Harrier XX Squadron by Peter Fenwick, on Flickr

ImageGR9 Harrier by Peter Fenwick, on Flickr

ImageT10 Harrier by Peter Fenwick, on Flickr

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buccs2b
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by buccs2b »

Difficult to pick only 3

RAF Halton show 1993
ImageHarrier_Halton_1993 by Tony Adams, on Flickr

Fairford RIAT 2002
Image2001_Harrier_IAT by Tony Adams, on Flickr

Gatwick Aviation Mseum
ImageHarrier alert by Tony Adams, on Flickr

There were so many more to choose from
Last edited by buccs2b on Fri 23 Oct 2020, 8:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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PeterR
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by PeterR »

Surprised to see photos of XW175 posted, as it was never operated by the Royal Air Force... :thinking:

Kicking off my entries with a 1417 Flight marked machine.
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The RAF Museum's Harrier GR9, seen under the stars. This aircraft is now suspended from the roof at Hendon.
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Finally, another GR9, this time photographed performing at the RAF Waddington International Airshow.
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alisdairanderson
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by alisdairanderson »

3 from a wet Shoreham Airshow in 2010:

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Harrier GR9 ZG858 20100821 Shoreham by steam60163, on Flickr

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Harrier GR9 ZG858 20100821 Shoreham by steam60163, on Flickr

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Harrier GR9 ZG858 20100821 Shoreham by steam60163, on Flickr


Cheers
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capercaillie
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by capercaillie »

PeterR wrote:
Thu 22 Oct 2020, 3:51 pm
Surprised to see photos of XW175 posted, as it was never operated by the Royal Air Force... :thinking:
From Mark's own keyboard

Anything from GR1s to GR9s, twin sticks and test aircraft, so it has to have a UK serial but no Royal Navy. Clear? Good, then get posting😁
"The surrogate voice of st24"

My flickr photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/146673712@N06/

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Mictheslik
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by Mictheslik »

Distinct lack of low level shots which I hope to remedy!

"That" Pass in April 2010....
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My last ever low level Harrier...down Thirlmere on a late autumn day almost exactly 10 years ago :(
Image

And a moody landing shot from Yeovilton....
Image

.mic
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shorsley
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by shorsley »

Sadly a type that was retired just before I got my first D-SLR (and fog meant they never did accompany the Mighty Ark's last entrance so I lost my only chance to catch them on D-SLR), so all museum shots from me.

Part of XV741:
ImageHarrierXV741_2 by Sarah Horsley, on Flickr
(The wings and tail are on another truck).

ImageCosford_37 by Sarah Horsley, on Flickr

ImageGatwickAMNightshoot_21 by Sarah Horsley, on Flickr
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Andyph
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Re: 48hr Photo Comp - RAF Harrier

Post by Andyph »

ImageIMG_4591-01 - Copy by Andy Heap, on Flickr

on the loop

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