A Harrier GR.9, ZD 406, Royal Navy Naval Strike Wing, RAF Station Cottesmore, 2009

Harrier GR.7/9 BRITISH FIGHTER 1/48 SCALE PLASTIC KIT #1166

INTRO The development of precision-attack missiles with a nuclear warhead during the 1950s changed strategic military doctrine dramatically. It became obvious that large military air bases would become easy targets that could be wiped out by a single, precise strike. This prompted French aircraft designer Michel Wibault to wonder, in 1955, if NATO might not be making a mistake by constructing some 100 new 'field' bases called Basic Operational Platforms (BOP) alongside the border of the Eastern Block. Instead, Whibault proposed the development of an aircraft with VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) capability, eliminating the need for the proposed air bases. First drawings The VTOL (Vertical Take off and Landing) concept is not a new idea. Several VTOL aircraft were proposed during World War II, but it was the dawn of the jet era that brought new possibilities, first tested with Rolls-Royces´ Bedstead flying device. A real aircraft followed in the form of the Short SC.1 prototype, using four RB.108 turbojets pointing downward with a fifth pointing to the rear for forward propulsion, but it was quite obvious such a layout was ineffective. Instead, Wibault proposed a single powerful gas turbine, driving four high-capacity movable blowers via shafts. There was not too much interest at Dassault, but it attracted the attention of USAF colonel Johnny Driscoll, who was then commander of the Paris based MWDP (Mutual Weapons Development Program). He presented Wibaults´ plans to Theodore von Karman and the famous engineer and physicist was impressed. Thanks to initiative from the MWDP, it was decided to build a testbed prototype. The Bristol Orpheus engine was selected for the purpose, but Bristol chief designer Stanley Hooker considered the design with all the shafts and blowers too heavy and complicated. As a result, and in cooperation with other designers, an alternative solution was proposed using a powerful turbojet engine with a large axial low pressure turbine as a source of pressure for vectored uplift nozzles. This proposal was finally adopted. Road to the Harrier The project was designated P.1127, and work began in 1957 as a close cooperation between Hawker Aircraft, with design offices still led by the memorable Sydney Camm, and the Bristol Engine Company, which shortly abandoned the idea of a modified Orpehus engine and started work on the completely new Pegasus unit. Both companies had to overcome many technical, political and financial hurdles in order to get the project through. The most important factor for success was the continuing support of the MWDP, as the British Ministry of Supply was still uninterested and, more to the point, Minister of Defence Duncan Sandys was writing his 'White paper on Defence' which left little room for manned aircraft in it. This was a contributing factor to the cancellation of the promising VTOL supersonic P.1154 project, developed alongside the P.1127. Incidentally, the name Harrier was originally reserved for the P.1154. The first take off to test the hovering abilities occurred on the 21st of October, 1960, with test pilot Bill Bedford at the controls. It was quite an arduous job for him. After some enhancements to the control system, the program went on with more test flights to include the transition from hovering to forward flight and vice versa. Just a year later, significant changes and some relief for both Hawker and Bristol companies came in the form of a three sided agreement between the United States, United Kingdom and West Germany to finance nine prototypes built on the experiences with the P.1127 test program. These prototypes were named the Kestrel FGA.1 and ten pilots conducted 960 test flights and, in addition, also some 1,366 take offs and landings from the 7th of March 1964 to November, 1965. Four years after the successful ending of the Kestrel programme the first Harriers GR.1 arrived at RAF base Wittering. One year later, in 1970, two squadrons of Harriers were deployed to RAF base Wildernath in West Germany. The Royal Navy Harrier FRS.1 (Fighter, Reconnaissance, Strike) differed from the RAF GR.3s from which they were developed, in many aspects. The main reason was the philosophy behind the use of the naval Harrier. Although only subsonic, it was intended as an interceptor for fleet air defence rather than in the ground attack role and installation of the Ferranti Blue Fox radar as well as ability to carry a range of air-to-air missiles were instrumental. There were more changes in order to make the Harrier suitable for service on the decks of Royal Navy carriers, such as, for example, a raised cockpit with a bubble canopy for better visibility. The US Marine Corps AV-8A was similar to the RAF GR.1, but were able to carry AIM-9 Sidewinders on their outer pylons for self-defence purposes. Another area of changes was in the avionics. The development of the first generation of Harrier went to the GR.3 with a more powerful Pegasus engine along with some other changes. The USMC upgraded their AV-8A to the AV-8C version and the Royal Navy bettered the FRS.1 with the FA.2. That marked the end of the development of the first generation of single seat Harriers. The Search for Range and Payload Shortly after the Harrier entered service, it became obvious there were some issues to solve. Primary concerns were short range and insufficient payload. To solve these shortcomings, a joint program called Advanced Harrier was started in the early seventies, but the British abandoned this in 1975 and McDonell Douglas refused to carry on the financially demanding project alone. The company came up with a less ambitious upgrade for the USMC Harriers, which fell under the five year funding plan of the US Ministry of Defence as the Harrier II project. Shortly thereafter, the British came back with their British Aerospace consortium. First flight of the Harrier II was conducted on the 5th of November, 1981. The core of the upgrade was the new Pegasus Mk. 105 with a thrust of 97 kN. The aircraft received a heavily reworked wing with some 14 % more area and with two underwing pods added. Also, the fuselage was changed to incorporate composite materials replacing the original aluminium alloy parts in order to save weight. All in all, payload capability rose by 6690 lb (3035 kg) with very short (VSTOL) take off and thanks to the new control system and improved stability the Harrier was now more forgiving than its predecessors. The USMC later equipped its Harrier II with radar during the upgrade program to the AV-8B+ spec, while the British Harriers II never received this. The only British Harriers with radar were Sea Harriers. The Royal Navy was not part of the Harrier II program, but after phasing out their FA.2s in 2006, they entered Joint Force Harrier operations with the RAF using marks GR.7 and GR.9. Former Sea Harrier unit No.800 Squadron received their GR.7s in April 2006, followed a year later by No. 801 Squadron. Both squadrons were enlarged and together they formed the Naval Strike Wing. Invincible Class carriers underwent several upgrades in order to accommodate the Harrier II. The main base of this JFH was RAF Base Cottesmore. British Harrier IIs First of the new Harrier IIs was the GR.5, of which 41 were built. The Harrier II had a much greater range and endurance than the first generation aircraft, promoting a greater emphasis on the interdictor role of the plane. For such a mission some more upgrades were necessary, leading to the GR.5A, of which 21 were built, 19 as new built aircraft and three upgraded from GR.5s. This was followed by the GR.7 with avionic improvements, including a nose-mounted forward-looking infrared (FLIR) system compatible with night vision goggles, new cockpit displays and also a new electronic countermeasures suite. The GR.7 took off for the first time in May 1990, entering service with RAF squadrons three months later. Existing GR.5s and GR.5As (53) were upgraded to the GR.7 standard, adding to the 34 new built examples. Twenty of them were later upgraded to the GR.7A standard with a new Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk.107 engine offering 106 kN of thrust. Another development was carried out under the JUMP (Joint Upgrade and Maintenance Program) umbrella and led to the final GR.9 variant. This upgrade was conducted in several steps during scheduled periods of maintenance and significantly upgraded the Harrier avionics, communications systems and weapons capabilities. The Harrier now could fire AGM-65 Mavericks, drop Paveway LGBs and carry DJRP reconnaissance containers. In 1996, the last of the first generation Harriers were retired and Harrier IIs assumed all their RAF duties. They were deployed in several missions from Bosnia and Kosovo to the hostile and tough environment of Iraq and Afghanistan. It was expected that the GR.9 would carry on in service until at least to 2018, but on October 19th, 2010, it was announced that they would be retired in April of 2011. It was quite a controversial decision, leading to the loss of the only fixed wing aircraft with the ability to operate from the decks of Royal Navy carriers. During November 2011 all 72 remaining Harrier II aircraft together with all associated inventory were sold to the USMC for 108 million dollars, only to serve as a spare parts source. 1166 - NAV1 ATTENTION UPOZORNĚNÍ ACHTUNG ATTENTION

INSTRUCTION SIGNS INSTR. SYMBOLY INSTRUKTION SINNBILDEN SYMBOLES

OPTIONAL BEND OPEN HOLE SYMETRICAL ASSEMBLY REMOVE REVERSE SIDE APPLY EDUARD MASK VOLBA OHNOUT VYVRTAT OTVOR SYMETRICKÁ MONTÁŽ ODŘÍZNOUT OTOČIT AND PAINT POUŽÍT EDUARD MASK NABARVIT

PARTS DÍLY TEILE PIECES

PLASTIC PARTS A> D> W> 2 pcs.

B> C> E>

X> F> G> V>

Y> J> K> P> Z>

COLOURS BARVY FARBEN PEINTURE

GSi Creos (GUNZE) AQUEOUS Mr.COLOR AQUEOUS Mr.COLOR H 86 C68 RED MADDER H 8 C8 SILVER H 309 C309 GREEN H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK H 312 C312 GREEN H 25 C34 SKY BLUE H 316 C316 WHITE H 76 C61 BURNT IRON H 317 C317 GRAY H 77 C137 TIRE BLACK H 320 C320 DARK GREEN H 79 C39 SANDY YELLOW H 331 C331 DARK SEAGRAY H 80 C54 KHAKI GREEN H 335 C335 MEDIUM SEAGRAY H 82 C31 DARK GRAY C127 COCKPIT COLOR 2 H 317 C317 GRAY PE40 PE37 PE40

OPTIONAL: decal 97 H 317 C317 GRAY H 12 F7 PE21 C33 FLAT BLACK film A H 317 PE18 C317 GRAY

A2 PE24 PE37 PE15 PE17 OPTIONAL: H 317 C317 PE26 PE14 decal 102 GRAY OPTIONAL: decal 101 PE27

A2 OPTIONAL: decal 93 PE28 OPTIONAL: H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK PE12 PE20 decal 94, 95, 96, 100

H 317 C317 GRAY film A film B PE23 PE25 PE22 PE12, PE25, film B - OPTIONAL: MARKINGS A , F ONLY decal 98 PE13 OPTIONAL: H 12 H 12 C33 C33 decal 99 FLAT BLACK A FLAT BLACK PE16 X7

H 317 C317 GRAY B H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK H 12 C33 X2 FLAT BLACK X9

A2 C X4

B1 X1

do not glue! P1 P1 C B do not glue! B4

P1 P1 do not glue!

A1 H 316 C316 WHITE A5 H 8 C8 SILVER

3 D E F open canopy open canopy PE43 H 12 PE44 C33 D FLAT BLACK H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK C1 C1 PE19 C8

H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK

H 317 E C317 GRAY

H 317 A C317 GRAY PE34

H 317 C317 PE32 GRAY C8 PE33 H 317 C317 PE36 GRAY

G H I J K V4 G10 W12 W14 G11 A3

G9 V3 V5 W11 W13 A4 V5

L M PE50 PE59

PE47 3 pcs. PE52

PE53

V3, V4 V3, V4

PE45

H 76 H 76 C61 C61 BURNT IRON BURNT IRON D5 K J

H 8 C8 SILVER H do not glue! D2 H 316 H 76 C316 WHITE C61 BURNT IRON L K do not glue! H 316 H 8 H 76 C316 C8 J C61 G WHITE SILVER BURNT IRON F I

Z4 M 4 F9

T9 E3 J1, J2 - MARKINGS B , F ONLY N J1 K5 F8

T8 J2 K4 E2 B3

H 12 N C33 FLAT BLACK

O K2 O P

K1 P

D1 G1

F2 PE31 PE30

PE42 PE30 PE31 D4 Z8

T5 T7

2 pcs. B2 PE60 T1 PE58 H 8 C8 SILVER

PE54

H 8 C8 SILVER

PE57

PE49 H 8 C8 SILVER

5 RP6 2 pcs. RP5 RP7

H 77 H 316 C137 C316 TIRE BLACK WHITE H 77 H 77 C137 TIRE BLACK C137 H 316 TIRE BLACK C316 PE39 WHITE RP9 RP8

H 316 RP10 C316 WHITE F6 decal 146 H 316 X24 C316 WHITE H 316 X21 H 316 C316 C316 WHITE WHITE

H 316 H 316 H 77 C316 C316 C137 WHITE F5 WHITE TIRE BLACK

Y4 PE38 decal 147 H 316 Y3 C316 F3 decal 150 WHITE decal 147 H 316 C316 WHITE decal 146 C3 decal 151

CAMOUFLAGE COLOR W4 C3

H 8 C6 C8 SILVER H 316 C316 X10 WHITE C5 H 316 CAMOUFLAGE C316 H 316 COLOR WHITE C316 WHITE X12 G8

H 8 C4 C8 H 316 SILVER C316 CAMOUFLAGE WHITE COLOR H 316 C316 F11 F10 G5 WHITE F10 F11

H 316 C316 WHITE

CAMOUFLAGE COLOR

H 316 C316 WHITE

CAMOUFLAGE COLOR

R S T W1 T14 T17

W19

T16 T15

U W5 V 2 pcs. W

H 316 C316 W19 W6 WHITE

V2 H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK W15 W1 V1

H 316 H 12 C316 W5 C33 WHITE FLAT BLACK W7

W6 6 C127 YELLOW GREEN S E1 E4 R

T6 E1 E4 T6

T13 X16

PE48

X14

PE51

X13 U

T2 X15 T6 G3 F4

F1 T3 W U G4

T2 T3 X Y Z

decal 152 Y2 Y1 Y7

H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK H 12 C33 H 12 FLAT BLACK C33 PE56 FLAT BLACK Y2

PE29 H 12 Y6 PE55 H 8 C33 C8 FLAT BLACK SILVER C2

PE41 H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK 7 decal 145

H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK PE7 RP15

RP16

H 12 PE1 C33 decal 141 FLAT BLACK

H 80 C54 decal 142 wire KHAKI GREEN - 0,3 mm H 79 C39 H 80 SANDY YELLOW H 12 C54 C33 decal 143 PE63 KHAKI GREEN FLAT BLACK PE2 PE61 RP18 RP17 PE6 PE9 H 12 C33 PE9 FLAT BLACK H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK

RP14 H 8 C8 wire SILVER - 0,2 mm RP14 Y MARKINGS A ; B ; E ; F a PE46 PE62 2 pcs. PE3 H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK W10

X18 PE4 W9

Z8 PE35 Z W8 PE10 W8 H 12 PE10 C33 X FLAT BLACK G12

Y5 PE5 decal 144 PE8 a

PE11

RP5 RP5 T7 T7

RP61, RP8 RP61, RP9 Y2

Y4 Y9

R7 RP7 RP7

Y6 Y1 8 A Harrier GR.9, ZD 406, Royal Navy Naval Strike Wing, RAF Station Cottesmore, 2009

In 2009, the Royal Navy celebrated a century of UK Naval aviation. For that memorable anniversary, the fin of ZD 406 was painted in a striking three colour design with the inscription 'Fly Navy 100 1909 - 2009'. Apart from the fin, all surfaces were in Medium Sea Grey, except the canopy fairing, which was Dark Sea Grey. The aircraft ended up as a USMC spare parts source in the 'Boneyard'.

H86 H82 RED DARK CAM. GRAY 68 31 H331 H335 H12 H320 H316 DARK SEA GRAY MEDIUM SEA GRAY BLACK YELLOW GREEN DARK GREEN WHITE 331 335 33 127 320 316 eduard 9 Harrier GR.7, ZG 479/69A, IV (AC) Squadron, Operation Telic, Ahmed al Jaber Air Base, B Kuwait, spring 2003 With the small zig-zag style sharkmouth, this Harrier II served during Operation Telic, based at Jaber Air Base in Kuwait as a part of specially formed No. IV (AC) Squadron. The 30 Harriers were pooled from all four RAF Harrier squadrons (1st, 3rd, 4th and 20th). On the Port side there were black silhouettes of seven Paveway attacks plus two iron bombs attacks. Additionally, there was also a small silhouette of a MiG-29 painted just under the canopy (still unknown why). This Harrier II ended up at the 'Boneyard' as a spares donor for USMC AV-8Bs.

H331 H82 H12 H320 H316 DARK SEA GRAY DARK CAM. GRAY BLACK YELLOW GREEN DARK GREEN WHITE 331 31 33 127 320 316 eduard 10 C Harrier GR.7, ZD 464/54, 20 (R) Squadron, RAF Wittering Air Base, 2002

This Harrier served with No. 20 Squadron RAF, which was from September 1992 until March 2010 the OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) for the BAE Harrier GR.9 and T.12. The aircraft selected for air shows had the vertical fin painted in light blue with a double X, the Roman numeral 20 and with the emblem of the squadron, a black eagle against a background of the rising sun. ZD 464 was lost during an airshow at Lowestoft on August 2nd, 2002. In front of spectators watching from the beach, the Harrier lost power while hovering some 90 ft above sea level and crashed into the water. The pilot managed to eject, but broke his ankle when landing on the debris of his aircraft.

H25 H316 SKY BLUE WHITE 316 34 H331 H82 H12 H320 DARK SEA GRAY DARK CAM. GRAY BLACK YELLOW GREEN DARK GREEN 331 31 33 127 320 eduard 11 D Harrier GR.7, ZD 379/27, 1(F) Squadron, Barduffoss, Norway, January 2004

Painted in the so-called 'Arctic camouflage scheme' consisting of Dark Sea Gray and Dark Camouflage gray oversprayed white color, this Harrier took part in Snow Falcon military exercises in Norway during January 2004. The aircraft was later upgraded to GR.9 standard and is one of many sold to the USMC after being retired from service with the RAF and Royal Navy. As many others, ZD 379 ended up with the 39th Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at the famous 'Boneyard' near Tucson, Arizona.

H331 H82 H12 H320 H316 DARK SEA GRAY DARK CAM. GRAY BLACK YELLOW GREEN DARK GREEN WHITE 331 31 33 127 320 316 eduard 12 E Harrier GR.7, ZG 501, SAOEU Boscombe Down, 1996

This was one of the Harriers serving during 1996 at Boscombe Down as part of Strike Attack Operation Evaluation Unit (SAOEU). The plane was camouflaged in NATO IRR Green and Medium (Lichen) Green during this period. On the vertical fin there was a unit badge (sword with three wings) on a blue wedge-shaped field. Originally, ZG 501 was part of No. 4 Squadron, but was transferred to No. 41 Squadron in 2010. There, it was repainted in Dark Sea Gray, obtaining the new code EB-Q. This Harrier was upgraded to GR.9 standard and later was sold as a spare parts source to USMC.

FOR THIS CAMOUFLAGE SCHEME USE STENCILS IN SECTION A ON DECAL SHEET

H86 H82 H316 RED DARK CAM. GRAY WHITE 68 31 316 H309 H312 H12 H320 DARK GREEN LICHEN GREEN BLACK YELLOW GREEN DARK GREEN 309 312 33 127 320 eduard 13 F Harrier GR.9A, ZG 478/68, No. 41 (R) Squadron, RAF Coningsby Air Base, March 2006

This Harrier II of No. 41 (R) Squadron based at Coningsby wore, during 2006, this anniversary scheme celebrating 90 years of the Squadron. On the probably white vertical fin (some sources insist on silver) with black leading edge there was a red Cross of Lorraine, the Squadron´s symbol. This plane was heavily damaged in Afghanistan when attempting to land at Kandahar Air base on 14th May 2009. Throughout the approach, the rate of descent was too high and although Hover Stop was selected with full vertical thrust in the final stage, the plane struck the ground heavily, and the undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft caught fire and slid with all the underwing stores still attached along the runway for some 4,000 ft. During the trek down the runway the pilot turned the aircraft away from a formation of four aircraft waiting to take off, then ejected. The wreck ended in private hands and currently ZG 478 is undergoing restoration to static display condition.

H320 320

H331 H82 H86 331 31 68

45 75 H82 7 31 78

127

45 75 44 H86 68

127

7 H316 316

H331 331

ČESKOU VERZI TEXTU NALEZNETE NA www.eduard.com/s/1166 31 127 25 40 H316 H12 316 33 86 64 32 34 26 4 12 57

WG CDR G WATERFALL

45 154 65 19 7 41 41 127 H86 RED 68 H331 H82 H12 H320 H316 DARK SEA GRAY DARK CAM. GRAY BLACK YELLOW GREEN DARK GREEN WHITE 331 31 33 127 320 316 eduard 14 Harrier GR.7/9 STENCILING POSITIONS

Left Side Nose Gear Right Side Nose Gear Front Nose Gear

67 66

61 59 62

Outboard of the Right Side Outboard of the Left Side Fuel tank Pylon 155 155 Fuel tank Pylon

Central Pylon Right Side 155

129 130 138 127 127 131 Outboard of the Right Side 155 155 Outboard of the Left Side 3rd Pylon 3rd Pylon 129 130 Central Pylon Left Side

155

Outboard of the Right Side 138 127 127 131 155 Outboard of the Left Side 4th Pylon 155 4th Pylon 129 130

138 127 127 131

Right Side Fuel tank Left Side Fuel tank 116 68

132 132 132

72 72 72 72 Fuel tank Top View Fuel tank Bottom View

81 82 72 72 72 72

AIM-9L Sidewinder Left Side Outrigger Right Side Outrigger 73 52 58 54

60 60

B A L 6 8 0I

55 51 24 56 eduard 15 Harrier GR.7/9 STENCILING POSITIONS

109

57 117 122 110 111 111 91 77

65 70

65 107 118 71 123 83 53 92 70 124 115

128

128 118 80 80

91 38 71 128 128 128 112

113 128 80 74

91 128 118 80 91

119 119 84 126 91 120

80 128 125 111 84 74

121

126

108 91 111 110 57 79 117

70 92

65 70 69 83 71 76 65 111 114