Advanced Harrier Projects

[Scott Kenny]

I've discovered in Air Enthusiast of May 1972 that the Harrier T.52 G-VTOL could be modified with extended "big-wing" tips of 27 inch for ferry flights.
View attachment 722503

Wish those had been more standard, but I suspect they didn't have a combat maneuvering G load.

 

[BlackBat242]

Exactly, the Blue Fox antenna diameter was about 4 inches smaller across than the Harrier II Plus' AN/APG-65.

APG-65 antenna diameter: AV-8B+ = 22.8" vs F/A-18A/B = 26.625"
Source: The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997-1998

Blue Fox Antenna Diameter = 20 in

Blue Vixen Antenna Diameter - ??

 

[Kiltonge]

Found on @PaleoAero Twitter , no source given. Ferry tips provided a 9% L/D improvement.

And for reference, an actual ferry tip that was for sale online.
"DANGER POWER CONTROL AND JET BLAST".

 

[P1127]

I've discovered in Air Enthusiast of May 1972 that the Harrier T.52 G-VTOL could be modified with extended "big-wing" tips of 27 inch for ferry flights.
View attachment 722503

All first Gen harriers could use them, but they weren't used very often - as they weren't suitable for combat use, you had to replace them, so you needed sets of normal wing tips to follow. They were used on T birds going to Malta etc in the 70s on occasion.

HS developed a carbon fibre version that had an integral fuel tank

 

[P1127]

Not an advanced Harrier as such, but I hadn't previously seen GR.1 XV277 with the Blue Fox radome shape for testing.

I'm not sure it was representative of Blue Fox, more a shape to show the Harrier could carry a radome at the time they were trying to sell the Sea harrier (like carrying and firing the AR Martel). It was shaped like a miniature Blue Parrot one.

 

[F.L.]

All first Gen harriers could use them, but they weren't used very often - as they weren't suitable for combat use, you had to replace them, so you needed sets of normal wing tips to follow. They were used on T birds going to Malta etc in the 70s on occasion.

HS developed a carbon fibre version that had an integral fuel tank

Do you have some more photos of Harrier fitted whith that ?

 

[Tigershark 30-82]

Not exactly sure how relevant this might be (although it does involve a mention of an advanced Harrier project of some kind):
I was re-reading a fan-scanlated version of the Area 88 Manga (specifically the Viz Comics run), I came across a fan-submitted letter (right side of page, in bold) which makes mention of a supersonic Harrier being developed/worked on by both McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace.
Of all the places to find something so niche mentioned...

 

[Scott Kenny]

Not exactly sure how relevant this might be (although it does involve a mention of an advanced Harrier project of some kind):
I was re-reading a fan-scanlated version of the Area 88 Manga (specifically the Viz Comics run), I came across a fan-submitted letter (right side of page, in bold) which makes mention of a supersonic Harrier being developed/worked on by both McDonnell Douglas and British Aerospace.
Of all the places to find something so niche mentioned...

View attachment 727337

Area 88 is very much an airplane-nerd's manga...

 

[Tigershark 30-82]

Area 88 is very much an airplane-nerd's manga...

Fair point honestly

 

[Jason Dykstra (Wyvern)]

They were used on T birds going to Malta etc in the 70s on occasion.

Hmmm, I'll have a look around the local planespotting Facebook pages when I get a chance, perhaps I'll find some photos.

 

[Nik]

Did the name 'Rob Rowe' crop up for any of these 'Super Harrier' designs ??

He's the guy I met who deprecated 'Plenum Chamber Burning' for supersonic, but declined --OSA+NDA-- to describe his team's solution...