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AV-8 Harrier |
The
dream for a military aircraft able to take-off and land vertically
like a helicopter and then transition to conventional flight was
realized in the British made AV-8A Harrier. First flown and
deployed by the RAF in 1969, it utilizes the concept of "Vectored
Thrust" in which turbine by-pass air is routed to one of two pairs
of nozzles at the wing roots, while jet exhaust is directed
through the second pair. The combined "thrusts" enable the
Harrier to either hover or fly normally depending on the position
of the nozzles which can be rotated in unison along the
longitudinal axis anywhere from straight aft for forward flight to
a little forward of straight down for hover.
Designed primarily for ground attack and support carrying all
armament under the wings, it is also capable of near supersonic
speeds (approximately 600 knots). Harriers were tested in combat
during the Falkland Islands War during which 42 were deployed for
ground support, air defense, ship strikes, and reconnaissance.
They shot down at least 20 enemy planes most with Sidewinders and
some with 30 mm, without a single air-to-air loss. Five were lost
to ground fire and four to adverse weather. It is said that the
British victory probably would not have happened without the
Harriers. |
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AV-8B Harrier - Royal
Navy
Premier Series. Loaded with weapons. 1/35th scale. 10"
wingspan x 17.5" long.
No. AGW4D-PR. Only $219.95 |
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