Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3, A2604 / 712188, Royal Navy
This picture is © Martin Laycock and may not be used or published without permission.
Registration: A2604
Construction Number: 712188
Code Number: XZ129
Military Unit: Engineering Training Section
Model Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3
Operator: Royal Navy
Airport: RNAS Yeovilton (YEO / EGDY), UK - England
Photographer: Martin Laycock
Date Taken: 02/06/1994
Date Submitted: 12/03/2009
First flown on 24 February 1976 and delivered on 6 April 1976 to 233 Operational Conversion Unit, Royal Air Force Wittering. She is a Falklands War veteran (sort of), during April of 1982 she was on the strength of 1(F) Squadron and conducted DACT (Dissimilar Air Combat Training) at RAF Binbrook and then ski jump training at RNAS Yeovilton. On 4 May she was flown from RAF Wittering to RAF St Mawgan and from there to Wideawake, Ascension Island on the 5 May. She remained there on air defence duties until three 29(F) Squadron Phantom FGR.2s arrived on 24 and 26 May. On the 3 June she embarked on the merchant ship 'Contender Bezant' off Ascension and sailed for The Falkland Islands. She arrived in the Falklands TEZ (Total Exclusion Zone) on the 10 June but remained aboard ship unused prior to the Argentinian surrender on the 14 June. On the 6 July she disembarked to RAF Stanley to join the shore detachment there. She remained in the Falklands until December when she was shipped back to Ascension and then flown to Wittering by a Heavylift Shorts Belfast arriving on 26 January 1983. After retirement from the RAF she was used as an instructional airframe with the Engineering Training Section at RNAS Yeovilton who painted her up to look Sea Harrier(ish). She now resides at the Ashburton Aviation Museum, New Zealand.
Picture ID:1162892