Talks on the Harrier

[Mayfly]

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=8225756&c=EUR&s=AIR

[Xplumberlives]

Yes they are in the process of completing the deal on 74 of the stored Harriers at RAF Cottesmore!

Two other aircraft have been donated to the RAF Museum and the RNAS Museum, these were chosen on the 4th of August 2011!

As far as I can work out that leaves one that was incomplete at Wittering in the summer.

[MOD]

$50m for the spares seems a reasonable deal for both sides. I wonder how much the airframes and engines will go for. I guess that's what they are arguing over now.

XPL when we saw all those Harriers in those Cottesmore Hangars my blood ran cold at the thought of the scrap-mans gas-axes tearing them to shreds. Much better for their vital organs to be transplanted into US Harriers than turned into baked bean cans! imo


ibw

[Xplumberlives]

Ian

It would appear that many people on other fora are angry that the Americans are getting an awful lot for very little outlay!

I suppose they would rather see the airframes sit in hangars being maintained at great expense, just in case the UK Government decided to bring them back in to service. This will NEVER happen, far better to sell them for a small return and see them used in some form rather than eventually becoming targets on a range.

I hope they will be airlifted out of Cottesmore, it would be intresting to see some C5s, C17s or even An124s tasked with the haulage!

[Mayfly]

No XP, The impression I get is they are simply miffed that they won't be around to entertain them any more!!!!

[Xplumberlives]

No XP, The impression I get is they are simply miffed that they won't be around to entertain them any more!!!!

Yes, but I wasn't going to mention that childish attitude, did you see some burk wanted two Harriers kept for flypasts and displays!

[Mayfly]

What's it like banging your head against a brick wall?

[Xplumberlives]

What's it like banging your head against a brick wall?

Oh, I'm having great fun playing with the uninformed!

[MOD]

I hope they will be airlifted out of Cottesmore, it would be intresting to see some C5s, C17s or even An124s tasked with the haulage!

You still have my number?? (BTW IOU for a can of Stella )

Seriously though, once the MOD/Govt have decided that they don't want an aircraft any more ( for whatever reason - right or wrong ) they usually go to the scrap-man for peanuts. OK a few might go to museums, as is the case here, but I cannot remember a previous case whereby a Foreign Govt decided that they were worth far more than their scrap value.
Like you Dave I loved the Harrier/Sea-Harrier and followed its career right from the start and to think that those 74 we saw at Cottesmore are not now going to become baked-bean cans but will actually fly/live again gives me a fairly happy feeling.

Roll on the F-35C Lightning II. It has a hard act to follow but from what I've seen it is more than capable of filling the Harrier's shoes.

Only time will tell.



ibw

[Mayfly]

Need an Aspirin XP?

[Xplumberlives]

Need an Aspirin XP?

It is SADLY a shame that many AIRCRAFT ENTHUSIASTS really KNOW VERY LITTLE about many aspects of their chosen hobby!

I could count on the finger of one hand (with NO fingers) just how many aircrew could now fly a Harrier, let alone cajole it across the pond, sometimes it actually beggars belief the stupidity of people on OTHER FORA!

[Mayfly]

The problem is they don't understand the restrictions in many cases. They believe it's the same as laying up a car for a year or 2 - you just need to make sure the battery is charged and start her up.

[Molerat]

Makes a change from us buying their second hand tat

[Xplumberlives]

I hope they will be airlifted out of Cottesmore, it would be intresting to see some C5s, C17s or even An124s tasked with the haulage!

You still have my number?? (BTW IOU for a can of Stella )

ibw

I think so!

[Mayfly]

So the deal is done about £110M lock, stock and barrel then

http://www.defencemanagement.com/news_story.asp?id=18115

[Xplumberlives]

It would appear so, ONLY odd thing in that article is the mention of 72 airframes, what has happened to the other two?

76 at Cottesmore from which 2 are donated to RAF Museum and RNAS Museum leaving 74 from which 72 are sold to the USMC, where are the other 2?

[Mayfly]

yeah I noticed that, I suppose we have better give them back!! , also the 'That's a disgusting price to sell them for' brigade are out.

What else are you going to do with then if you only have one outlet?

[Xplumberlives]

yeah I noticed that, I suppose we have better give them back!! , also the 'That's a disgusting price to sell them for' brigade are out.

What else are you going to do with then if you only have one outlet?

Personaly I think they should all have been given to museums, every single one of them!