The last British VSTOL aircraft | Harrier Jump Jet GR9

Standing beside IWM’s Harrier GR9, the second generation and last of the Harrier jump jets, Fighter Pilot Paul Tremelling tells us about the history of the Hawker-Siddeley Harrier, the world’s first fixed-wing vertical or short take-off and landing strike aircraft (VSTOL). Paul joined the Royal Navy in 1996 and flew the Sea Harrier on 800, 801 and 899 Naval Air Squadrons. Qualifying as an Air Warfare Instructor, he transitioned to the Harrier GR9 and served on the Naval Strike Wing, a unit where he became Senior Pilot. Selected for exchange duties with the USN, Tremelling flew F/A-18E Super Hornet with VFA-25, The Fist of The Fleet. In 2009, Paul even flew Harrier ZD461, the one he now stands beside, at RAF Spadeadam. This experience makes Paul the perfect guide to explain the development of the Harrier Jump Jet and why it was so well loved by pilots, with insight into what it was like to land on an aircraft carrier for the first time, how it was to switch between models and what it felt like to learn that the British government was retiring their Harrier fleet.
Meet Fighter Pilot Paul Tremelling at IWM History Festival as he tells us his story and experiences live on stage in Harrier: How to be a Fighter Pilot.
Tickets and sessions are selling fast. Saturday 25 March 2023. Learn more: bit.ly/3XciJJm
Paul Tremelling is the author of Harrier: How to be a Fighter Pilot - out now: t.co/zufROuprqz
ASSETS
Air to air footage of Harriers © Crown Copyright MoD
Footage of Harriers returning from Afghanistan and refuelling from an RAF VC10 © Crown Copyright MoD
Harriers in Afghanistan photos: © MoD www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/ and via www.dvidshub.net/image/796481
Harrier FA2 © Andrew P Clarke (D2180s at English Wikipedia)
Harrier FA2 front on © LA(PHOT) Billy Bunting via www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/
Harrier II underside © Jerry Gunner from Lincoln, UK
Harrier II cockpit: POA(Phot) Jonathan Hamlet, OGL v1.0OGL v1.0, via www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/foto...
FRS1 © USN - U.S. DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-87-05770
GR9 overhead view - Photo by Chris Lofting via airliners.net
Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig aka 'Flying Bedstead' - Photo by User:geni, CC BY-SA 4.0
'Flying Bedstead' in flight via "Golden Anniversary for VTOL" by Erasmo Piñero, Jr. Vertiflite, Fall 2004 (page 50).
RAF Spadeadam aerial shot via VisitCumbria.com
Harrier firing CRV7 rockets © Magellan Aerospace

[@SecularIranian]

8:38 "our job was to help the ground forces, who are the real heroes in this" Great to see a jet pilot so grounded! Sounds like a true professional.

[@mpk6664]

He wasn't grounded, which is why he is a pilot.

[@leenunn6446]

Big balls..more like

[@londomolari5715]

Hmmm, ... that's the function of the A-10, but the US Air Force doesn't seem to care.

[@derHallen_Ch.]

@@londomolari5715 Because the 10 got outperformed by numerous aircraft at its own job

[@jackcameback]

@@mpk6664 that was a joke right?

[@SPQSpartacus]

Harrier was one of those planes that was Famous. It was special, it was cool. Even people not interested in the military genre knew about it.

[@Hermantrueman]

Very cool 😎

[@simonkevnorris]

I seem to recall that it made numerous displays at the British F1 GP where it used to hover over a corner and 'take a bow'.

[@StrikeNoir105E]

Given how unique it was as a plane it did get to appear in a fair share of commercials and movies, most famously movies like True Lies, and more infamously that Pepsi commercial that jokingly offered a Harrier as one of the promo prizes.

[@joelbilly1355]

True lies, the Falklands. I rember seeing a pair of them at an airshow in the 90s.

[@Rose.Of.Hizaki]

Pepsi even wanted to give one away.

[@ronnichols884]

When I was at Homestead AFB, Florida, my father in law came to visit. We were driving by the flight line when a Harrier came in for a landing. He stopped in mid air, pivoted in the same spot, moved backwards and forward, then side to side. Then he moved up and down, all while maintaining a horizontal position. I knew all about this capability, but my father in law was totally amazed.

[@sojup61]

Pilot is a real EXPERT!! Harriers killed sooooo many Indian Navy trainees and sometimes experienced pilots too.... It like playing Tchaikovsky on a piano and flying at the same time!!

[@ak06041]

@@sojup61 wow, really? never knew that.

[@heybabycometobutthead]

@@sojup61 only first class pilots fly complex machines like this, poor training will be exposed in a Harrier

[@raywhitehead730]

Later, in my career, I was a maintenance test pilot. But not on the Harrier. Your comment about the differences in training between USMC pilots, and British piolts, in regard the crash and fatality rates bears thought. A good comment! I am not sure where I would come down on that. However, in the early 70s, the A model Harrier was flown very aggressively by the Marines, most of whom were all combat proven Viet Nam pilots. Lists of those planes, about 110, were destroyed in crashes in non combat flying.

[@raywhitehead730]

To be clear, the Marines got about, 110 A model Harriers. More then half were destroyed in non combat flying.

[@darryldyke1264]

I was a technician on Harriers. Amazing aircraft retired from service far too early. Really enjoyed this great video.

[@parabelluminvicta8380]

the Italian are still using it but the better much better version with the Harrier II

[@sprinter1832]

@@parabelluminvicta8380 Yeah! course it is! does it have reverse????? or surrender mode? Pmsl!

[@parabelluminvicta8380]

@@sprinter1832 said the english boii that had to be helped for 2 world war got carried by others. Remember dunkirk? yeah thats your country and your country today is even more pathetic. Is Boris doing good after the scandal? talking about others...

[@rbrtjbarber]

I worked with a man who was a Harrier mechanic in the Marines. He said it was a pain to work on, especially when the engine had to be changed (the entire wing had to be removed first). He actually decided not to reenlist because he couldn't get a different assignment.

[@raywhitehead730]

I headed up many engine changes, in the 70s, on A model Harriers, mostly in the squadron VMA 513. Yes, the wing, A one piece, wing had to be entirely removed before the engine could be removed. But wait, the plane was defueled before that, the controls had to be detached, electric systems were detached, the control exhaust nozzles were taken off, and the whole airplane was put on A cradle, and jacked up at an angle.... And more..it was a pain.

[@Frserthegreenengine]

It was a huge mistake to retire these magnificent Harriers early. We should have kept them on until the F-35 was truly ready and then retire them properly and give them a much more deserving send off. They had only just been upgraded to GR.9 standard and had at least 10 years worth of service left in them.

[@jaylancaster5419]

Not all of them are retired ... I see them flying weekly.

[@AA-xo9uw]

Most of the Brits Harrier II fleet had not been fully upgraded to GR.9s under the Joint Upgrade and Maintenance Programme (JUMP). In fact many of the aircraft were already in long term storage when the decision to sell them to the United States was made. Reportedly only 40 remained operational at the time.

[@Frserthegreenengine]

@@jaylancaster5419 they are in British service

[@Frserthegreenengine]

@@AA-xo9uw Most of them were in storage as there was little need for them, but were still in relatively good condition. The RAF and RN had drawn back the Harrier force to two frontline squadrons (1 RAF and 1 Fleet Air Arm Squadron) and one OCU squadron, each with 9 operational aircraft (27 overall). So there is a reason why only a handful were still operational, the rest were either reserves, in maintenance or were older GR.7s which had all been withdrawn back in April 2010. The Harriers were retired completely in December 2010 and then sold off in November 2011

[@jaylancaster5419]

@@Frserthegreenengine I'm in the US, and the closest military base to me has five squadrons of AV-8Bs in service (one being a training squadron).

[@promerops]

Sir Sydney Camm - from 1930s biplanes, through the Hurricane, Typhoon/Tempest, Hunter, the Harrier and beyond. What a career! What a talent!

[@notcomply]

What has happened to our country? It's tragic

[@AA-xo9uw]

Camm passed away 21 months before the first flight of the Harrier.

[@johnjephcote7636]

It was Camm who said that one of the several parameters about designing an aircraft is...politics.

[@dannystephenson4197]

Joined The Marines to fly Harriers. A machine ahead of it's time. Godspeed !!!!! Semper Fi !!!!!

[@AaRr-bn3xx]

Air support is exactly that... Supporting our boys on the ground while at the same time being an unsung hero...

[@cdobeson]

I remember being supported by US Marine Corps Harriers in an assault in Iraq in 2005. I felt the waves of heat as their bombs landed amongst the palm trees. An awesome and terrifying experience I’ll never forget. What a great aircraft.

[@kristoffermangila]

Harriers... tricky to fly, but steady and reliable. Beloved by the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and USMC (as well as other militaries around the world) .

[@SpikeF14]

Hated by the Argies :)

[@white-dragon4424]

The Spanish have/had them too, but in their case they called them "Matadors".

[@kristoffermangila]

@@SpikeF14 😆😆😆!

[@richardvernon317]

Loved by some, Not loved by people who had worked on them and then got to work on stuff that was better. My Brother worked on Harriers, Tornado's and Jaguars in his RAF Career and he calls the Harrier a Leaping Heap.

[@white-dragon4424]

@@richardvernon317 They say the other iconic (and beautiful) fighter, the F-14 Tomcat, was a nightmare to work on as well.

[@o0bananaman0o]

this dude needs to do more videos, very well presented and articulated. bravo!

[@earlyriser8998]

Agree. He has a great style. Ask him to to the F18, flying support roles, carrier landings, problem management, etc

[@Richard-fx6go]

He's a top bloke, always polite and cordial.

[@mbryson2899]

A Harrier performed at an an airshow I went to in Salinas, CA in the early 90s. It was DEFINITELY an impressive crowd pleaser. It dashed straight us, stopped, hovered, danced left and right, backed away, then rotated and shot off to the side and jetted away. VERY impressive!

[@checkout5017]

Great talk, great aircraft. truly a British legend

[@Alastair_]

I remember growing up thinking the Harrier was the coolest aircraft in the world, such a shame we got rid of it. Seems we keep taking steps back in certain ways.

[@sensibledriver933]

It really was cool, but the 35 is a huge technological leap forward. Shame it isnt British.

[@Hypernefelos]

@@sensibledriver933 It's partly British. The UK was the program's biggest co-developer, after the US.

[@CircsC]

As a young person I hoped for a Harrier demonstration group like the Thunderbirds or the Blue Angels. I'm sure the ability to manually vector thrust in forward flight would've led to some interesting maneuvers

[@romigithepope]

He is an amazing presenter. I hope he does more.

[@simonorr594]

Well said. This was a fantastic presentation- I used to be an engineer and it was a joy to listen to!

[@billybobkingston5604]

Amazing plane, its service in the Falklands was spot on

[@theotherside8258]

yet we sadly lost some there. Can't quite remember, but i think they were lost in bad weather as they hadn't been radar upgraded. Anyone in the know?

[@MG-bs5mr]

@@theotherside8258 I seem to recall that weather claimed a few Naval harriers. I think one RAF one was shot down by AA fire.

[@matthewbaynham6286]

@@MG-bs5mr Are you really sure one was shot down by enemy fire?

[@MG-bs5mr]

@@matthewbaynham6286 no, not sure. But I vaguely recall a GR1 getting downed by AA fire and the pilot evading the Argentinians for much of the rest of the conflict.

[@MG-bs5mr]

Correction: I wanted to remind myself so ... the RAF variant was the GR3 not GR1. And five Harriers were shot down. 2 RN, 3 RAF. One of those were hit by fire from the ground and the pilot ejected later so 4 losses to AA could be argued.

[@beetsbeetsbeets]

Fell in love with the Harrier as a kid. Did a report on it in elementary school regarding VSTOL. Had multiple posters in my room. I was super happy to see the one at IWM in person a few years ago. This video was a real treat to watch. Thanks for uploading!

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

ppfffffft swingwings are cooler

[@pedestrianrights1257]

yeah, and the "Marines" harrier shown in action in that move True Lies, definitely captures the badassary of that exciting plane.

[@martingreen5192]

I worked at Hawker Siddelely Brough in the 60's. The plant had about 5,000 employees. One day in 67 or maybe 68 the entire staff were asked to go onto the airfield. Harriers were prototype at that stage. A Harrier came in and did it's dance around the airfield, hovering, forward, backwards sideways. None of us had seen anything like this before that - it was amazing. Quite why we did not continue with it I will never understand, it's really sad. Another sad thing is that most of the Brough plant has closed down - all those skills lost.

[@RichardMontgomeryYT]

The f 35 b has vtol

[@gavin1506]

@@RichardMontgomeryYT more svtol.

[@user-nv7gx3qm8u]

The break up of British aircraft industry was a grave mistake. Competition is the key to innovation. It never pays to reduce such competitiveness, but the pathetic British government tend to make this same mistake time and time again. A German company director stated that German industry was based on a British concept from just after the war. Small is beautiful. He reckons that is why Germany is still successful in manufacturing but the UK has lost its way. Obviously Germany has many massive companies, but they also still "contract out" for many things and have kept up that concept.

[@elwin38]

When i was in the US Navy, i served on the Belleau Wood(1987-89) and we use to launch and recover AV-8B(harriers)during deployment.

[@avroncotton]

Proud to have served in the Fleet Air Arm on 801 Sea Harrier Squadron on board HMS Ark Royal. Wish I could do it all again.

[@billymkirkwood4956]

One of the best Aircraft ever invented in its day, I still truly love it.

[@Emlizardo]

Humble, articulate presentation from a gentleman who could take out an entire platoon with the press of a button

[@timothyevans7383]

Aaahhhh, but not as good as wiping out an entire country with the stroke of a pen... (Monty Burns, - The Simpsons)

[@tonyhaynes9080]

95% of the fast jet world jockeys are exactly as you say. Some were arrogant and so full of themselves, but you have to remember what it took out of the pilot flying these leaping heaps. Especially the early ones.

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

@@tonyhaynes9080 when I was a kid a harrier pilot lived opposite us and I hated him even at that age. So, so arrogant. Also stole my advent calendar to give his kid

[@Travis_22]

@@Ukraineaissance2014 What a rotter

[@toxictony4230]

I remember a time in the lakes when I was on a hill called Troutbeck Tongue. It's not a particularly big hill and these two Harriers came up the valley from Lake Windermere and flew either side and below the summit. I distinctly remember the pilot of one give me a wave as he flew by, cool as anything. They then joined up and disappeared over Threshthwaite Mouth and into the next valley.

[@RabbitSQN]

Epic - you gotta love the engineering and in particular the Pegasus engine and nozzle control! Not to mention the composite materials in the main plane!

[@jaybuck5818]

I remember the first time I saw a Harrier up close. If memory serves it was 1971, I was a young teenager in the ATC (UK air cadets) and we were visiting RAF Wittering, home of No. 1 sdrn, who were flying them at the time. We were allowed up fairly close and a flight sargent answered any questions we had (well, most of them!). An exceptional aircraft.

[@terencejay8845]

My bro was a Harrier pilot out of Wittering. I went to their Summer Ball and all the guests had been ushered outside for a quick display by my bro. Supposed to go across the front, he decided instead to scare the crap out of everyone by coming at full belt right over back of the Mess. Chaos, drinks everywhere. But.. that took him low level over the village, a big No-No. So, he was in front of the Station Commander in dress uniform for an official dressing down. After getting a strip torn off him, he was dismissed. As he reached the door, the CO said 'Steve.. that was effing fantastic!'

[@garethfairclough8715]

I know that odd feeling of seeing your equipment in a museum. I visited Liverpool last year and saw a display of military uniforms through the ages, from the 1600s to the late 2000s. At the end was a dummy wearing desert DPM and a mk2 Osprey vest. On that vest, I noticed my ZAP number, name, blood type etc, all in my handwriting, in the permanent marker pen I had written it back in 2008. It's a spooky feeling. Damned spooky.

[@garrywynne1218]

That is spooky

[@markevans8446]

When you finally realise that you have always been a dummy ...))

[@jf7243]

Whoa, a feeling like being a collectable vintage red wine!

[@work90]

@@markevans8446 and you aren't?

[@digitalradiohacker]

My rifle was on display at the royal armouries in Leeds for a while. I'd do anything to buy it and put it on the wall at home.

[@RexsHangar]

On top of all the excellent points made in this video, I would like to add that I personally think the Harrier is rather adorable looking.

[@ramranch18]

i wasnt expecting to find you under this video

[@petertyson4022]

Brilliant aircraft. One of my favourite British jet fighters. I think I still have a broken corgi toy of one. Was sad to see it go it's like when the concord and the the shuttle were decommission. . Good show. 😊

[@vaughnslavin9784]

The Warthog and Harrier, my two favorite war beasts. Thank you!

[@KjllShot]

Call me cliche but I'm a massive tomcat fan BUT I've always had a special soft spot for the Harrier, such a beautiful and astonishing piece of machinery

[@Richard-fx6go]

Nice video Tremmers, Ledge here. It was a pleasure serving with you and those years working with the Harrier fraternity were the best in my 32 year Naval career.

[@davidallen3497]

Love the Harrier. It's so unusual for a jet to not see big exhaust nozzles under the tail.

[@kloppanator]

One hell of an iconic aircraft.

[@gustavoheberle6265]

Congratulations for such a highlighted career, Captain. Your expression for the ground troops shows your good character, and humbleness. Thank you for your service.

[@AA-xo9uw]

Commander

[@manupbritain5232]

I remember being under a hovering Harrier as a kid at an airshow. A technical masterpiece and legend of the RAF.

[@vintagepairdisplayteam910]

I can highly recommend Paul’s brilliant book! Not only his life, but a great chunk of the Harrier too.

[@Zandiv]

Impressive innovation and engineering at work for the era.

[@botulf4908]

My father was ATC with No1 Sqn at RAF Wittering late 70s early 80s and on occasion he'd let me skive off school and go and do airfield inspection with him, then up to the control tower, watching the Harriers taking off was amazing and as a treat he got one of the Harriers to hover close to the tower and do the dipped nose salute....as a 13 year old lad that was amazing!!! The sight of a Harrier gliding a few feet above the runway vectoring down and blowing surface water up and around the fuselage and wings leaving only the tail fin visible was Jaws dropping!!! I really miss hearing the Harriers fly around here.

[@germansnowman]

I still remember standing about 50 or 100 meters from a hovering Harrier at the ILA Berlin in the early 1990s. An experience which I will never forget!

[@johnmunro4952]

Has it really been 12 years already !? I live in North Northamptonshire and used to see the Harrier ( along with A-10, F 111,Tornado and hawk/Provost trainers) all the time in the 80s and early 90s. I can remember seeing a flight of harriers do an orbit over my town, then disappear in the clouds. It was only when watching the local news that night, that I discovered that what I'd actually seen, was the last flight of the RAF Harriers as they prepared to land ( Cottismore I think) sometimes we don't recognise historic moments till it's too late.

[@silasla]

I remember this flight from my childhood.. I was extremely impressed by the vertical takeoff 🥰

[@Sterlingjob]

Being able to get the same thrust from the hot and cold nozzles is an engineering marvel.

[@Sterlingjob]

And don’t forget the Russians couldn’t master this and need lift engines!

[@stillsalty947]

Yea but as it turns out a seperate device for upward thrust is the way to go. Marvelous for its time however the vectoring system imposed its own restrictions and compromises...

[@owensmith7530]

@@stillsalty947 A separate device for upwards thrust adds parasitic weight, ie. weight that does nothing in level flight. The Harrier's nozzles weighed very little.

[@Sterlingjob]

@@earl_gray totally different system of doing things

[@AA-xo9uw]

@@owensmith7530 "The Harrier's nozzles weighed very little." Yet helped to produce the notorious and troublesome compressor, aka pop, stalls that the Pegasus is infamous for.

[@matthayward7889]

Came here from aircraft interviews, Paul is a pleasure to listen to!

[@Krhys1]

One of the most amazing aircraft, ever. I was serving in Afghanistan when Harriers were in service and they looked amazing coming in or taking off.

[@georgemorley1029]

I was part of JFH from 2009-2011 in the HILOC at Cottesmore and it was some of the most worthwhile work I’ve done in my whole career. Loved this aircraft, SDSR was a disgrace.

[@christophercook723]

Sorry you are suffering from Overanagraming.Hope they find a cure soon.GBFN.

[@AA-xo9uw]

@@christophercook723 pogue

[@christophercook723]

@@AA-xo9uw HilLOC JFH NFG ATAL? Achronims. FAW means William always gets shot at? Forward Air Reconisance Terminated. AOK? TTFN.

[@AA-xo9uw]

@@christophercook723 FOAD SH.

[@scroggins100]

I served on the Harrier Force and will never understand why we sold 50 to the USA just to keep the Tornado in the air for another couple of years. The aircraft we sold to America had just been upgraded and would still be flying now.. The RAF has to get away from the notion that an aircraft has to cost billions in development and that five or ten of them are enough. We need platform to drop munitions from. Look at the B52! it will be 100 years old by the time it even looks like being withdrawn. The A10 likewise. Putting all your eggs on one type of very expensive aircraft means any attrition over time cannot be replaced and you loose. Stand off missiles allow older platforms to simply do what they are designed to do, Carry bombs etc. Deep penetration into heavily defended airspace is best left to drones!

[@richardvernon317]

Kept the Tornado fleet in the air for nearly 10 years. Tornado fleet was bigger than the Harrier fleet anyway.

[@c00sto]

Tornado couldn't match the GR9s sortie rates, but as a platform the Tornado with RAPTOR ticked more boxes when it came to chopping a type. Egg on face moment was Libya when they had to tank Typhoons and Tornados to and from theatre from Italy while they were stripping out and dismantling the recently refurbed Ark and Harriers that could have sat 20 miles off the coast

[@richardvernon317]

@@c00sto Oh Dear, another WAFU fool who thinks that Warships run on air!!! A Carrier would not be there by itself, it would be part of a battle group with escort destroyers, frigates, RFA logistics ships and Tankers. All of the Warships would have at least 2 Gas Turbines and two Generators running 24/7. Dependant of air temperatures and weather, Harriers may have had to dump weapons before landing. Time out from Flight Ops would be required for the Carrier to refuel with AVCAT, its own fuel, plus weapons, Food and other stores (the Magazines on the CVS were not that large). The RAF took around 4 days to deploy Typhoons and 5 days to deploy Tornados to Italy (plus launched missions from the UK). When the RAF were not flying, their only costs were Hotel bills!!! Fuel costs on a Tanker and the Transit are nowhere near that of a Carrier Battle Group and the Harriers would need a Tanker to do any time on station anyway.

[@garethfairclough8715]

@@richardvernon317 Indeed, but Tornado had a totally different role to fill anyway.

[@ENGBriseB]

Just over 10 years ago the UK sold 72 Harrier jump jets for 180 million dollars. And the US is going to use them well into 2025. And are carriers are waiting around for F-35s which is going to take until 2025 until we get 50 jet's unbelievable. And we have ordered 74 F-35B Lighting jets. And the UK is the only level one partner with every F-35 made is 16% British Engineered. Just hurry up with the 138 we was going to have.

[@chrisburgess7756]

Thanks for your service. Thanks for giving your time on this video and mentioning the other forces. Touch of class.

[@peterbaker3429]

Wow joined the Navy in 1996 bloody hell, served 21yrs and left by then. This "boy" is a real treat to most men who have served. 1966 to 1987, move over boy

[@Gjydcnkuikbvfdf]

Paul's book is fantastic and well worth a read.

[@andrewnash6121]

Thank you for your service, Sir. That is an amazing story and plane.

[@bigjohnnysax358]

A real piece of audio/visual history. Excellent.

[@lauriea2971]

Ty for your service in the RAF. Being apart of the British Comminworth Im from Canada 🇨🇦. God bless u and ur family and friends and the most part God bless the service personal in a overseas area slots of love from Canada. God save the king

[@mozzy207]

Great video, thanks Paul and IWM!

[@ollieduracell]

One thing us British nailed was definitely the harrier!. Way ahead of its time!

[@piketfi8139]

So cool, an unbelievable aircraft, just looks so…. Cool. How awesome to have the very aircraft you flew hanging in the background. Thank you for your service.

[@JamesHayr]

Super interesting interview. My dad, Air Marshal Sir Ken Hayr, was the Wing Commander in charge of the first ever operational squadron at No.1 Group, Wittering from 1969. He flew all manor of fighter jets but The Harrier was a clear favourite. A fly past tribute flew over his funeral at RAF Halton in 2000.

[@curiousuranus810]

Brilliant channel - more like this. Brilliant post - respect Paul. Brilliant aircraft - and we scrapped them.

[@mothmagic1]

Was lucky enough in my time in the Army of having a flight in a Harrier T4. The joys of providing ground comms for the Harrier force. In a word Awesome.

[@GaneshMushika]

I have had the feeling of hearing a true gentleman speaking about a gentleman's aircraft. Thank you!

[@birdsoup777]

We all need one another regardless of your level. I appreciate you honoring the men on the ground

[@weasel4060]

Absolutely adore the Harrier! It was such a good aircraft.

[@jaylancaster5419]

Still is ... I see them flying several times a week.

[@palletcolorato]

Some of the best aviation art at your fingertips!

[@birdsoup777]

Thank you. Harrier is my favorite plane to this day. I saw one at an Air Show at El Toro Marine base in Irvine, Ca. Amazing !

[@000pete9]

Top guy! Spoke with experience. Thank you for sharing.

[@davewilson9738]

Incredible feat of engineering, marvellous aircraft.

[@andrewscott7485]

There's a funny story during the testing of this aircraft lots of foreign pilots got hands on. One German pilot who had shot down 20 British aircraft during the war got in the harrier took of in vetol got in to bother with the plane tipping over he ejected safely. He walked over and said that's 21 British aircraft now.

[@smithy280663]

who says the Germans don't have a sense of humour?? Glad he was ok.

[@richardvernon317]

@@smithy280663 Was a West German Pilot flying a Kestrel during the Tri nation VSTOL trials at RAF West Ranyham in 1964/65. Aircraft was not quite a Harrier.

[@sebastienprivat1259]

IIRC, the German pilot was in fact Gerhard Barkhorn, and he said "That's 302 allied aircraft now"...

[@AA-xo9uw]

"One German pilot who had shot down 20 British aircraft during the war got in the harrier took of in vetol got in to bother with the plane tipping over he ejected safely. He walked over and said that's 21 British aircraft now."(sic) Actually that was Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn, number two ace in the Luftwaffe behind Erich Hartmann, with 301 kills. As a Colonel he crashed while attempting to hover a Kestrel FGA.1 on 13 October 1963 and as he was exiting the wreckage is reported to have said '"Drei hundert und zwei!"(302!).

[@mjmorrill081]

One of the best airplanes ever made. I was lucky enough to see one at an airshow, I was so impressed! When the pilot lifted off turned and looked at the crowd, dipped his nose, and took straight off what an impressive moment.

[@johnwinters6999]

Wow this guy is so articulate and knowledgable

[@keithgarland3404]

Fantastic breakdown from somebody who really knows what this amazing aircraft can do.

[@rotwang2000]

Given the specific engineering requirements and limits imposed by VTOL capability, the result was quite amazing all things considered and went on to serve admirably.

[@philc4520]

Awesome. Perfectly informative & insightful.

[@pinview8519]

Harrier was in an airshow some years ago, lifting up and hovering in front of you in the air so close by with the wind and noise, an awesome experience. Really is a technology and engineering marvel.

[@dazio7035]

Madness to stop using Harriers. What an amazing, compliant aircraft!!!!!

[@GonzoTehGreat]

It's been replaced by the F-35B

[@pedestrianrights1257]

It's not madness when the F-35B can do BETTER than the harrier

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

yeah obviously the F-35B is way better than a harrier. what I find a bit sad is that the americans retired the F-14 in 2006, because swingwings are awesome. it's very funny though that the F-14 was only ever used by the US and iran, and now iran is the only user. somehow they've still managed to fly some as late as the war in syria, despite presumably getting no parts for maintenance from the US since 1979. well, at least they haven't been revealed to have been part of the american arms sales to iran of the iran-contra affair as far as I'm aware...

[@pedestrianrights1257]

@@Ass_of_Amalek Iranian F-14s were never an issue. War is a game of paper/rock/scissors, so you need to provide the full range of weapon superiority in order to win the war (and iran definitely could never do that).

[@GonzoTehGreat]

@@pedestrianrights1257 _"Iranian F-14s were never an issue. "_ I don't think he suggested they were... He was just disappointed that the USN retired them and curious as to how Iran managed to keep them flying without US help.

[@samcrow2488]

Such a brilliant aeroplane, I love it.

[@stevegreene9389]

Great video and very well presented by Paul Tremelling. As a boy, I used to live within cycling distance of RNAS Yeovilton (where the pilot presenting this, Paul was based when flying the Sea Harrier). I would see Sea Harriers practicing take offs using the ski jump there (simulating take-offs with ski jumps on the Royal naval carriers used at the time: HMS Hermes & HMS Invincible from memory), high speed passes etc, so I spent many a weekend there, taking photos, and marvelling in what the Harrier could achieve in flight. I loved the Harrier for what it could do as opposed to any intrinsic beauty (like the EE Lightning for example). Thanks for stoking up the memories!

[@darrenhillman8396]

Great speaker and a nice humble man. Harrier was a masterpiece of engineering and is a true British icon. Excellent video. More please!

[@amarewskyy7341]

Being humble must come from years of actual war experience. I see plenty of interviews where ex-military are well mannered. I also am amazed by how UK was able to develop such technological marvel. And the fact that USSR cancelled their own vtol attempt with Yak-36 is even more satisfying and proves how high the bar was set.

[@AA-xo9uw]

@@amarewskyy7341 The Yak-36 was followed by the operational Yak-38 and the experimental Yak-41.

[@garyknight8616]

One of my favourite memories was standing on top of Dunkery Beacon in Exmoor while 2 Harriers used the peak for simulated target practice. Most of the time I was looking down on them as they swooped around the valley below. Wonderful.

[@GonzoTehGreat]

Is it a bird? Is it plane? No, it's a Hawker Siddeley Harrier!

[@francestomic2772]

Such an amazing machine

[@barrywebber100]

Very good and informative chat. Thanks for posting.

[@alanwakefield2453]

I was ground crew in the RAF serving at Bristol University Air Squadron at RAF Filton. Rolls Royce had a big factory at Filton and used a Harrier as a flying testbed. It was a misty morning and I had just finished refuelling one of our Chipmunk training aircraft. I heard the Harrier coming in for a high speed buzz of ATC, always impressive to see a low level pass. What was less impressive for an avgas refueler was the static generated, I can only describe it as St Elmo's Fire that hung in the air briefly, before earthing out on the windsock mast with a resounding CRACK.

[@leowasdead]

im currently reading paul's book on the harrier at the moment

[@christopherwalton729]

I am proud to say I worked on the USMC night attack and radar Harrier but also sad that they were decommissioned a few years ago. I never knew how many models there were and the different configurations in the Royal Air Force.

[@AA-xo9uw]

VMA-223 and VMA-231 continue to operate the AV-8B.

[@Alfeco-dm7uk]

The best moment is the mixture between the camaraderie of the friends and the loneliness of the aircraft cabin.

[@Darrylx444]

Great presentation Paul.

[@BlacKrait]

An absolute brilliant piece for aviation history! Shame that there are not go pro videos to see some footage like on those fly nowdays.

[@nigelczuchraj4517]

The British harriers were made at Hawker Siddeley Richmond road Kingston upon Thames where I did my engineering apprenticeship an as a young lad who liked aircraft I was in my element lunchtimes walking around the assembly lines etc,a very much loved aircraft and what’s more British!

[@AA-xo9uw]

Did anyone there ever bother to mention the major influx of capital compliments of the American taxpayers via the MWDP when touting that "British" product?

[@advanceaustralia4861]

Still a British product. Even if partially funded under MWDP.

[@Roomer645]

Great presentation and awesome demeanor ... Very well presented indeed !

[@toptiergaming6900]

This is why my 6th gen fighter concept I was working on designing in spare time as a passion project has VTOL because I love thr Harrier so much and the F-35B alot too

[@txnetcop]

Definitely one of the great aircraft!

[@himaro101]

I remember going to a seaside airshow as a kid in the 90'sn (I think it was Bournemouth?) and having one of these beauties hover no more than 20ft off the sea about 40ft out. An amazing craft and I remember a lot of people questioning why we dropped it over the Tornado.

[@richardvernon317]

Tornado was a better aircraft at fighting wars!!! Flew a lot more combat missions than the Harrier ever did.

[@GonzoTehGreat]

It was a financial decision made in 2011, when the UK was still recovering from the GFC. The MoD couldn't afford to keep both aircraft and the Tornado was needed more. Also, the MoD decided to decommission 2 of the RN 3 aircraft carriers (Invincible and Ark Royal) in 2011, with the 3rd (Illustrious) serving only 3 more years as a helicopter carrier before also being decommissioned, so there was no requirement to keep the Harriers in service beyond 2011. Instead, 2 new (QE class) aircraft carriers were under construction, which were intended to carry the F-35, so the Harrier would inevitably be replaced once these were ready.

[@Jaxck77]

The F35 is also a direct upgrade over the Harrier for primary duty, namely naval support, command & control, and superior VTOL capabilities that are far easier to learn & master. It’s a testament to just how good is the Harrier that it’s still in wide service today, but it’s also a statement of Britain’s cutting edge military that we can jump in to fifth generation aircraft with two feet.

[@AA-xo9uw]

@@Jaxck77 "and superior VTOL capabilities"(sic) The F-35B is a STOVL platform not VTOL. There was no KPP for the JSF to be capable of vertical takeoff. The fact that the F-35B can is simply gravy but it is not an operational maneuver.

[@napoleonblown-aparte4055]

@@richardvernon317 not quite. The Harrier were used in wars just as much as the Tornado was. Harriers were used in the Falklands whereas the Tornado had not yet entered service. Apart from the First Gulf War, the Harrier had been used in every conflict that the British was involved in until it's retirement. So both were extremely capable of fighting wars. The Harrier was arguably more versatile as it was could be used on carriers (albeit the Carriers did require defence from destroyers and support vessels but the extra capabilities it offered made this an acceptable tradeoff) and thus could attack targets where Tornados could not and the Harriers also had a greater serviceability rate. The Tornado on the other hand had greater range and greater payloads and thus had a wider range of ground attack options, most notably Storm Shadow and Brimstone (though the Harrier was mean to carry them too but was retired before they were cleared to carry it). Both of them were just as good at fighting wars as each other, but in different ways.

[@scottjackson1420]

Very good speaker. I have always admired this plane. You did right.

[@redjacc7581]

thank you for your service.

[@steveh5005]

Retired years too early. Now we know the threat from Russian airforce is a paper tiger. And we are moving back to the old central European " Cold war". Where we need practical ground support aircraft. Operating from roads and forests. Like many I saw the Harrier in Belize & Germany. Only a week ago Spanish marine AV8s flew over. Still valued by Spain.

[@Cheeseatingjunglista]

The US Marines took every plane we had efeter our deranged Govt to sell the lot. They still value them too, well there were still around 100 still in 2018

[@leenunn6446]

You must be on drugs

[@N75911_]

@@Cheeseatingjunglista There are still 3 active AV-8B Harrier squadrons in the Marine Corps, but most of them are Boeing AV-8B+ with radars.

[@Cheeseatingjunglista]

@@N75911_ Just like the upgrades that allow B-52s to still be used in the modern era, if a military aircraft stands still without upgrades, it is soon shot down in combat - its also a Boeing project as it was originally McDonnell that worked with BAe to build the Harrier 2 back in the 80s

[@AA-xo9uw]

@@Cheeseatingjunglista BAe worked with McDonnell Douglas at the tail end of the redesign as the Brits abandoned the Harrier II from 1975-1981.

[@n3307v]

The USMC Harriers shown are AV-8B not AB-8B.

[@billymkirkwood4956]

Live 29 miles from Spadeadam , watched you guys a lot back then... loved the Hawkes too over the range👌👍

[@wings9925]

That's an impressive and illustrious list of types to have flown!

[@bertspeggly4428]

I was the sound man for an open-air concert in St. Louis. The night before the show an intense rainstorm completely soaked the venue. They brought in a Harrier to hover over the field and dry it out. It worked very well. It was great to be there, I couldn't get under it, the force of the air was so strong, and of course the sound was deafening. An event in my life that I won't forget.

[@cgmp5764]

Being informed about a piece of technical hardware by someone who used it is hard to beat.

[@DunedinMultimedia2]

I saw a British Harrier at an air show in Texas in the 70s. It hovered, bobbed up and down like a yo-yo, unforgettable.

[@chriswatts2096]

Best years of my life working on them. 1986-1992