Harrier breaks world record

Chalk another one up for the venerable harrier!

"A combined QinetiQ, RAF and BAE Systems Air Test and Evaluation Centre (ATEC) team has achieved a new world record for total weight carried by an aircraft when launching from an aircraft carrier. The record came during a trial aimed at increasing existing approved launch weight limits for Harrier aircraft and was carried out with a GR7A on board HMS Illustrious. Ultimately, the success of this trial will give Harrier squadrons an increased maritime ground attack capability"

www.qinetiq.com...

They will probably have to aim the carrier at the target and let the Harrier fly straight till it uses some fuel up I would have thought the world record weight for carrier borne aircraft would have been with the Vigilante or something like that....

Ok it's nice to set records but how about some figures ? From the text I guess it's a record concerning the empty / full weight ratio and not a pure "payload capacity" record ?

Quote: They will probably have to aim the carrier at the target and let the Harrier fly straight till it uses some fuel up

From the original link: The increased launch weight brings the launching capability to the same as that currently cleared for land operations.

Im not sure but I don't think they rebuild the runways in the direction of the target each time!

well done Harrier

[edit on 23-4-2006 by Subatomic]

[edit on 23-4-2006 by Subatomic]

This is the most recent Harrier thread...So I figured its as good as place as any to post this video.

It has a harrier flying like 25ft off the ground passing by some guy standing in its path.

media1.break.com...

Wow. What an awesome piece of aeronautical technology. The first United States Military plane (used be the Unted States Marine Corps...OOHRAAH!) to be a VTOL plane, and now it has broken the record of largest payload. this plane is amazing! Unfortunately, the F-35 Lightning II has made this plane obsolete.

Originally posted by TheRanchMan
Wow. What an awesome piece of aeronautical technology. The first United States Military plane (used be the Unted States Marine Corps...OOHRAAH!) to be a VTOL plane, and now it has broken the record of largest payload. this plane is amazing! Unfortunately, the F-35 Lightning II has made this plane obsolete.

Some people will try to claim the credit for everything.

The Harrier certainly is an amazing piece of BRITISH engineering. The F-35 may be technically more advanced but until it is proven better in combat than the Harrier, it will still be an expensive wannabee.

C’mon now, can’t we all just be happy for the Harrier and leave the F-35 out of this? BTW was this a weight to payload ratio record or total weight record?

According to the link it is total weight carried, not a ratio. I don't know if this means the total weight lifted (aircraft, pilot, fuel and load) or just the weight of the load itself though. It does surprise me to think of a Harrier taking off carrying more weight than a Skywarrior or a Vigilante, or even a Greyhound?

I think its just weight carried, so it does not include the aircraft itself and fuel?. That’s still impressive though when you consider that there have been bigger carrier aircraft than the Harrier in service.

A combined QinetiQ, RAF and BAE Systems Air Test and Evaluation Centre (ATEC) team has achieved a new world record for total weight carried by an aircraft when launching from an aircraft carrier.