Libya illustrates the magnitude of the mistake made in decommissioning Ark Royal and Joint Force Harrier. Whilst 4 RAF Tornados were flying a 3,000 mile round trip from Marham with 4 flight refuellings each, 6 USMC AV-8Bs from MAS 542 with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit were flying 300 mile round trips from USS Kearsarge off the coast of Libya scoring 100% direct hits on Libyan armour with 500lb LGBs.
The UK situation is a bit better now but the Tornados have to fly from Gioia de Colle in Italy and this is still a 1,200 mile round trip. At that distance anything like quick reaction is impossible. It was also announced recently that there is a shortage of attack aircraft in the NATO force and that RAF Apache attack helicopters are to be used, operating from the amphibious assault ship (LPH) HMS Ocean, a much more vulnerable and less effective aircraft than the Harrier GR9 with its Sniper Pod and precision munitions.
Two-seat Harrier XW269, ex Boscombe Down Night Bird FLIR trials, as been restored from T4 to its original T2 configuration by Jet Art Aviation of Bradford. Finished in No.4 Squadron markings, the aircraft is for sale.
Art Nalls had a good year in 2010 operating his Sea Harrier FA2 XZ439 on the US air show circuit missing only two performances, one due to an hydraulic failure at St Louis and the other due to a fuel booster pump failure at Culpepper, Virginia, the last show of the season.
Your editor’s Harrier Database was published in the April ‘Aeroplane’.