AV-8B Harrier II Single-Engine Ground-Attack Aircraft: A Look At Back At The History And Innovation

A look back at the innovative AV-8B Harrier II.
The Marine Corps, an integral part of the U.S. Military, is bidding farewell to a trusted companion of several decades, the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) AV-8B Harrier II jet. This jet has been a reliable workhorse since the 1980s, playing a critical role in countless missions. However, as the Marine Corps looks to the future, it's beginning to focus on becoming a more agile and streamlined expeditionary force. This transformation involves shifting their attention to the F-35B Lightning II, a more modern and technologically advanced aircraft. As a result, the older AV-8B Harrier II jet is being phased out, and the Marines maintaining its engines will soon complete their final assignments with this iconic aircraft. This is a significant milestone in the history of the Marine Corps, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
We are also looking back at the predecessors.
The Hawker Siddeley Harrier Jump Jet, the origin of the VTOL Vertical Take-Off and Landing, and things you might not know about it.
The Harrier, informally referred to as the Harrier jump jet, is a family of jet-powered attack aircraft capable of vertical/short takeoff and landing operations (V/STOL). Named after a bird of prey, it was originally developed by British manufacturer Hawker Siddeley in the 1960s. The Harrier emerged as the only truly successful V/STOL design of the many attempted during that era. It was conceived to operate from improvised bases, such as car parks or forest clearings, without requiring large and vulnerable air bases. Later, the design was adapted for use by aircraft carriers.
The Hawker Siddeley Harrier is the first generation version and is also known as the AV-8A or AV-8C Harrier; it was used by multiple air forces, including the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The Sea Harrier is a naval strike/air defense fighter derived from the Hawker Siddeley Harrier; it was operated by both the Royal Navy and the Indian Navy. During the 1980s, a second-generation Harrier emerged, manufactured in the United States as the AV-8B and in Britain as the British Aerospace Harrier II respectively. By the start of the 21st century, the majority of the first generation Harriers had been withdrawn, and many operators have chosen to procure the second generation as a replacement. In the long term, several operators have announced their intention to supplement or replace their Harrier fleets with the STOVL variant of the F-35 Lightning II, designated as the F-35B.
General characteristics
Crew: 1 pilot
Length: 46 ft 4 in (14.12 m)
Wingspan: 30 ft 4 in (9.25 m)
Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.55 m)
Wing area: 243.4 sq ft (22.61 m2)
Airfoil: supercritical airfoil
Empty weight: 13,968 lb (6,340 kg)
Gross weight: 22,950 lb (10,410 kg)
Maximum takeoff weight:
Rolling takeoff: 31,000 lb (14,100 kg)
Vertical takeoff: 20,755 lb (9,415 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Pegasus F402-RR-408 (Mk 107) vectored-thrust turbofan, 23,500 lbf (105 kN) thrust
Performance
Maximum speed: 585 kn (673 mph, 1,083 km/h)
Maximum speed: Mach 0.9
Range: 1,200 nmi (1,400 mi, 2,200 km)
Combat range: 300 nmi (350 mi, 556 km)
Ferry range: 1,800 nmi (2,100 mi, 3,300 km)
Rate of climb: 14,700 ft/min (75 m/s)
Wing loading: 94.29 lb/sq ft (460.4 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.948
Armament
Guns: 1× General Dynamics GAU-12 Equalizer 25 mm (0.984 in) 5-barreled Rotary cannon mounted under-fuselage in the left pod, with 300 rounds of ammunition in the right pod
Hardpoints: 6× under-wing pylon and 1x under-fuselage stations holding up to 9,200 lb (4,200 kg) of payload:
Rockets:
LAU-10 four-round Zuni pods
LAU-68 (7 round) or LAU-61 (19 round) rocket pods for Hydra 70/APKWS 70 mm rockets[62][174]
Missiles:
Air-to-air missiles:
4× AIM-9 Sidewinder or similar-sized infrared-guided missiles
4× AIM-120 AMRAAM (on radar equipped AV-8B Plus variants)
Air-to-surface missiles:
4× AGM-65 E/F Maverick
4x AGM-122 Sidearm (SEAD missile used by USMC)
Bombs:
CBU-100/Mk 20 Rockeye II cluster bombs (CBUs)
Mark 81, 82, or 83 unguided bombs
GBU-12 or GBU-16 laser-guided bombs
GBU-38, GBU-32, or GBU-54 Joint Direct Attack Munitions
Mark 77 firebomb
Others:
up to 4× 300/330/370 US Gallon drop tanks (pylon stations No. 2, 3, 5, & 6 are wet plumbed)
Intrepid Tiger II electronic jammer[173]
Mk106 (6.6 lb (3 kg)) and Mk76 (31 lb (14 kg)) practice bombs
Avionics
Raytheon APG-65 radar
AN/AAQ-28V LITENING targeting pod (on AV-8B Night Attack and radar-equipped AV-8B Plus variants)
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#Aircraft #aviation #harrier

[@Dronescapes]

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[@jameswhyard2858]

Did you forget to mention tg Harrier Pad and its assembly by Royal Engineers?

[@Biketunerfy]

They were fantastic fighter bombers Harriers. The Royal Navy used them to fantastic effect in the Falkland’s war. So versatile. I still haven’t seen any in private hands that are flying.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

The Harriers and the Saab Draken then Vigen .. aircraft desighned to fight from improvised and dispersed strips. Cold war warriors who whent hot when they were needed.. and in the Harriers case from the prototype kestrel to the AVB took on jobs in places and against opposition and aquited themselves with distinction against all kinds of trouble. Still remember an RAF harrier do its hover ballet and take a bow at Farnborough air show with Ramond Baxter ex spitfire Pilot British TV presenter and commentator taking a ride in the Two seat trainer version. 😎

[@Nimitz0609]

US Marines don’t retire AV - 8 B that is power of CAS Mission.

[@williamhilbert8324]

The classic active duty porn stache rocked one back in the day lol

[@busterdee8228]

I was at Pax when this, and F-18, were tested. I liked the looks of the original better.

[@Thomas-wi7ti]

St.Marys county native here. They're all bad ass and unique machines. My favorite is still the osprey considering it was born right in my backyard.

[@lifesahobby]

Thanks

[@randygravel2057]

It’s cool cause it just vectors its thrust down, when it wants to go forward it vectors it back. It doesn’t use a lift fan like f35. I think the Harriors way is more elegant

[@mysticmoose6123]

Always worth having closed captioning on. LoL

[@user-qe7rz6jf1m]

F35produktionbug Whyhavef35no2backengines?

[@user-qe7rz6jf1m]

Gewerbeschild strahlshausen Lokieltmanshausen Bsustoffe eschwege

[@ianbeedles1329]

I wish you American narrators would learn the *correct* way to pronounce English place names, towns, cities and counties. In this day and age it is a simple task to *research* how it is supposed to be said.😊

[@Dronescapes]

Do you even wonder how Italians managed to survive with barely anyone, except them, being able to pronounce the name of history icons such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, or simply Ferrari? You rarely hear an Italian complaining about everyone butchering the name of of their masters, or even the name of simple things like mozzarella, and this has been going on for 500 years. It is extremely likely, unless you are Italian, that you mispronounced names 1000s of times, and that is OK 😉

[@Biketunerfy]

@@Dronescapes yes but Italians are not native English speakers like both Britain and America and that’s the difference. It all comes down to slight accent differences but I would not expect an Italian to name a British town properly and an Italian by the same token would not expect an English speaking person from the Anglo sphere to pronounce Italian words properly.

[@Dronescapes]

I was being mainly sarcastic. Usually the classic pronunciation battle focuses on aluminum.

[@Biketunerfy]

@@Dronescapes I know, it’s sad isn’t it 😂. I was once at the cash machine at the bank in Spain and this American lady spent ages at the machine and I got fed up and asked her does she need any help, I speak Spanish. She said “yes, I’m trying to find the American flag to get it to display English instead of Spanish”. So I went up there and pressed on the British flag, looked at her and her eyes opened wide and she went bright red and said “That’s right, We never invented the language oh I’m so embarrassed”. Gave me a good laugh when I got round the corner, I was biting my bottom lip trying not to laugh.

[@Dronescapes]

That's funny!