Harrier -The VAAC Harrier T4A,
XW175, used by the RAE/DRA/QinetiQ for
V/STOL control system development since 1983, has joined the RAF Museum
collection of research and prototype aircraft at Cosford. Originally
this was the second development Harrier TMk2.
Sea Harrier FRS
51- The fourteenth Indo-French naval exercise
(VARUNA) started with the arrival of four French naval ships at Goa on
23rd April including the carrier Charles de Gaulle carrying Rafale M
fighter aircraft. The Indian Navy participants included the carrier INS
Viraat (ex HMS Hermes) with its Sea Harriers. Joint exercises included
cross deck operations. Presumably this was SHARS to CdeG, not Rafales
to Viraat!
Sea Harrier FRS 2 - The RN School of Flight Deck Operations at RNAS Culdrose is training 70 sailors to ensure that the UK F-35Bs are safely marshalled around the Navy’s two new carriers. Fourteen 899 Squadron NAS Sea Harrier FA2s and T8s, their engines limited to preclude take off, give aircraft handlers experience of the noisy environment of a busy flight deck using a mock-up on the runway. The F-35Bs are due on board the Queen Elizabeth in 2018.
Hurricane - Hurricane MkI P3737 is at Turweston, Northants, being prepared for flight after being rebuilt by Hawker Restorations. The aircraft wreck was recovered from Russia in 1991 and has been rebuilt using wings from Canada and a Merlin from a UK crash site. It is painted in No 253 Squadron livery.