Harrier Ski-Jump Trials Lecture

On the 19th March Dick Poole gave an interesting and detailed talk to the RAeS Weybridge Branch on the ski-jump trials carried out at RAE Bedford in 1977-78.

These very successful pioneering trials proved that launches with ramp exit angles of up to 20 degrees were feasible, straightforward and safe and gave major performance improvements.

Ski-jumps now equip Harrier carriers of the Royal Navy, India, Spain, Italy and Thailand. There will be a full report in the next Newsletter.

Chris Farara

Harrier, Putting the Record Straight

On 11th June ex HSA/BAe Dunsfold chief Test Pilot John Farley gave an excellent illustrated talk to some 70 members at Hawker Leisure.

John covered the Harrier story from Wibault to Lockheed-Martin. He told how the engine concept was originated by Wibault, rejected by Dassault and developed by Gordon Lewis under Stanley Hooker; how the aeroplane was devised by Ralph Hooper under Camm; how the Harrier succeeded and grew from UK Harrier I to UK-US Harrier II; and how the Joint Strike Fighter now carries the torch ignited back in the late fifties at Kingston and Bristol.

As usual John made difficult technical concepts easy to follow without becoming simplistic, a rare gift.

There was a long question and answer session and John stayed on chatting to members afterwards. Another excellent afternoon for the Hawker Association.

Chris Farara