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Post by vulcanbomber on Dec 18, 2014 23:07:02 GMT
We've got so used to seeing the fully developed Harrier that it's easy to underestimate what an achievement it was. I saw three in a row doing their thing at an air show, nodding to the crowd etc, amazing stuff. I found this video that shows just what a knife edge those early flights rested on. the earliest flights had the aircraft tethered to the ground to stop the aircraft leaving the ground by more than a meter IIRC.
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Post by Roger on Dec 18, 2014 23:09:07 GMT
We've got so used to seeing the fully developed Harrier that it's easy to underestimate what an achievement it was. I saw three in a row doing their thing at an air show, nodding to the crowd etc, amazing stuff. I found this video that shows just what a knife edge those early flights rested on. the earliest flights had the aircraft tethered to the ground to stop the aircraft leaving the ground by more than a meter IIRC. And very wise too I should imagine.
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Post by vulcanbomber on Dec 18, 2014 23:12:26 GMT
the earliest flights had the aircraft tethered to the ground to stop the aircraft leaving the ground by more than a meter IIRC. And very wise too I should imagine. I think that vid you posted backs that up....
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Post by goldstar31 on Dec 18, 2014 23:30:59 GMT
As a bit of 'All our yesterdays' we had the Auxiliary Spits of 601 and 604 Squadrons at Hendon. Then came a Vampire with Cats Eyes Cunningham as the jockey. Our tarmac melted and so did the OC Flying- Arthur Fane De Sallis OBE, gaffer of 31. So the Auxiliaries buggered off to North Weald and got pressies of Vampires. Then came 1949 and I scrounged a trip to Farnborough when Comet1 was swanning about. The exciting bit was the Meteor8' with reheat- 40,000 feet in 4 minutes. Then came dear old Canberra or new Canberra then from a secret Warton. Over the top was Brabazzon from Filton- a right wopper.
Then the years rolled on. I got an offer of a quarter scale Tornado. Free gratis and for nowt. Had been in a garage somewhere. Vetoed by the Higher Echelon. Then I was at a Chinese New Year and one of the guys who used to write here- offered me a couple of Alpaccas.
But I digress
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 23:39:18 GMT
Agreed! John
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 23:57:39 GMT
My apologies as the following is slightly off-topic but it might be "of interest"}-----The prototype Harrier was called the Hawker-Siddeley Kestrel...... They also made a slightly different one like this prototype shown here.......... It was a research vehicle to study the feasibility of having a single-engined 4,000HP diesel locomotive for the anticipated increase in traffic at that time.............It eventually was sold to Russia and stored out in the open as part-scrap..........................................................
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Post by ejparrott on Dec 19, 2014 9:53:22 GMT
Which may be coming home....
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 13:10:14 GMT
I've started a new thread}------- Diesel Kestrel
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Dec 19, 2014 18:36:06 GMT
Not much to do in Farnborough at weekends other than go swimming and visit the FAST museum. Thankfully all behind us now but the exhibits in Farnborough Air and Science Trusts collection shows some lovely sectioned jet engines and outside a Harrier that didn't get sent to America!!! The 2 days of the Air Show were great!!!
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