Harrier Jump Jet Retired

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

Sad day for Military Aviation enthusiasts..A 16 strong fleet of Harriers flew their last sortie today due to the decision to retire of the aircraft.
The planes have fallen victim to British Government spending cuts.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

My wife will be gutted!
She loves Harriers. I'm more of a Spitfire guy myself.
Harriers put on a very impressive show and it'll be a shame to see them retired.

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

I was present at the first landing of a Harrier on a ship.
HMS Fearless was on the Thames at Greenwich. Must have been in 1976 I think.
I got some amazing shots on Ilford HP4 35mm.(Monochrome)

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

They'll only be on-sold to some Air Force, that really can't afford them, at a price they are not worth, and will be crippled more by their maintance than flying the buggers.

Prepare the hangers there in Williamtown, fellas...

Me, cynical? Noooo

Jen, that must have been one heck of a thrill! The Harrier has always been an aircraft I've admired since I can remember.

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

I was quite blase at the time.
We'd already been Filming with the James Bond crew - the one where the pod is collected in the back of the loading dock.
I was quite disappointed - it was a half size replica!!

[Barrykgerdes]

Remember the BBC program "The Plane Makers" from the 60's. It was a fictional ? account of the intrigue around the building of the VTOL. A great program. They don't make them like that now.

Barry

[Ric]

It will be sad to see them go.

They were one of the most advanced planes of their era.

I always get a buzz watching the vertical takeoff.

[hotspur (Chris)]

Such ashame.to see these go.

The U.S,I think still has a version called the AV8B,or use to.

From what I can remember they are quite good,a bit of a larger version of the

U.K one,I think they had/have graphite wings,lighter-so more ordinance.

I am fairly sure the AV8B was used in 'True Lies',-can't remember many of the

actors in that film,except Jamie-Lee Curtis.