Well,
I could talk for hours about the Harrier, its role and everything associated with it. In fact, I wrote a short (12 page) paper - with parts of it presented to Congress - about the Marine Avaiation program and the Harrier specifically. So, let me just mention a few points and if you want more PM me.
1. The AV8B is more maintenance intensive than any other fighter in the DOD. The Maintenance Manhours per Flight Hours is much more than the F/A-18.
2. One of the main reasons the Harrier hasn't been involved in more recent operations (Southern Watch/Northern Watch, Desert Fox) has more to do with the way its deployed. It is usually deployed as a 6 plane detachement attached to the MEU - commanded by a Marine COL. The Harrier is the ONLY fixed wing asset that the COL has direct command of, and they usually want to keep the harrier in "reserves" in case the Marines go ashore. Then the COL will have his own fixed wing assets to support the Marines.
3. In the summers of 1999 and 2000, the Harrier community experienced devistating "red stripe" groundings - lasting months. Many pilots didn't fly for months (6) and others of us flew only Functional Check Flights after doing major maintenance on the engine. I got out in 2001, but I believe most of those problems are behind us. However, in my opinion, the lack of funding over the years (last 20) will not overcome the recent funding, and pretty soon a lot of funding will dwindle down with the coming of the JSF.
4. Yes, the Lightening pod is an awesome piece of gear. I never got a chance to fly with it, but did some inital integration stuff with it. I have heard from a good friend at a high level job, that the pod gives better info (intel, BDA, etc.) than any other pod out there. The CINC really liked that during OIF/OEF.
5. The new Harrier II+ is really the airplane that should have been built to start with. Fully NVG compatible (by the way its the first TACAIR platform to be built from scratch that way), Great RADAR, FLIR, Large HUD, fully integrated weapons control systems, etc.. Incidently, the II+ is being built by taking an old "day attack" harrier, and re-using about 25% of it (the wing, landing gear, black boxes) and putting that all in/on a new empenage and engine.
6. The Harrier is harder to fly than a conventional airplane - so yes there probably is at least one "scare" story for every pilot that has flown it - myself included. I knew it was time to get out of the Marines when I was sitting around the office talking with 4 other pilots and they all told their ejection story - until they got to me. All my landings = takeoffs.
7. So, overall, it is a great aircraft, but the safety record is worse than other TACAIR platforms - but the Marines new this when they bought it. It was underfunded for years - The Navy owns the budget, but they don't fly and Harriers - you figure it out. Bandaid fixes finally caught up with it. It is fun to fly, has a great mission that it can flawlessly execute, but it does have some limitations. The concept was ahead of its time (until recently)- with weight limitations, engine problems, lack of targeting systems (Radar, Flir, Ligtening pod). I think the STOVL version of the F35 will be an awesome aircraft - without taking any penalty in performance for the STOVL. Incidently, I now work on the F35 program when I'm not flying for the reserves.
Any more questions please PM me.
AArider
