On November 9th, 1978, the first prototype YAV-8B, made its maiden flight at the McDonnell Douglas, St. Louis plant. Charles Plummer, McAir test pilot, demonstrated in a first seven minutes flight, the concepts developed for the AV-8B. Basically, the AV-8B embodies the same vectored thrust principles pioneered by Hawker Siddeley. Improving fuel capacity by forty percent and raising the number of underwing pylons from four to six. With these improvements, it helped quiet down the critics who cried that the Harrier AV-8A lacked range and payload capability. From 1979, until 1983. a full scale development plan took place. In January 1984, the first production aircraft were delivered to the US Marine Corps Harrier training squadron VMAT 203, at Cherry Point, North Carolina. In all, there were 300 AV-8B ordered. For training purposes, another 28 (2 seat) TAV-8B were ordered. This quantity should be sufficient to equip eight frontline squadrons as well as a training unit and two second-line squadrons of the Marine Corps Reserve.
It saw extensive combat duty during "Desert Storm".

Powerplant
Rolls Royce F402-RR-406A rated at 21.450 lb. dry thrust
Maximum ordnance
9200 lb. (4173 kg)
Speed
Maximum level speed “clean” at sea level 661 MPH (1065 Km/h)
Range
Between 2418 miles (3891 km) to 722 miles (1162 km) depending on mission.
Performance
Short take off at maximum take off weight (31000 lb/14061 kg) 1330 ft (405 m)
 

The kit is of the usual MONOGRAM high quality. Built SOB, cockpit received some extra Waldron punch and die set attention AROUND the LCD panels. It gave no problems and hardly any filler was needed. Extra care was needed to get "all the wheels" on the ground.
 

Desert Storm Forward Operating Base (FOB) setting on steal PSP plating. Marine Corps aviation crew is preparing the aircraft for another ground attack mission.
This particular model has been armed with two Hughes AGM Maverick air to surface missiles. This missile has an Electro-optical (television) seeker which the pilot will use to acquire the target. Assuring the missile is locked on, he fires it and can either select another target or commence escape maneuvers.
The base, including perplex cover is from ERTL, the figurines from the Hasegawa 1/48 carrier crew set.

Put three aircraft from the same squadron next to each other and you will see small differences in each paint scheme, in lining and color. I used Xtra-color light and dark gray that was still piled up in my storage boxes.
The decals were of excellent quality. Micro set and sol was used.
Finally, the aircraft received the first and only varnish coat. 3 Parts of Glitsa Satin varnish and seven parts methylated spirit.

REFERENCES
Gulf Air War Debrief, Editor Stan Morse, publisher Aerospace.
Detail and Scale volume 28 USMC Harriers.
Internet.

Camera: Simple Ricoh Caplio G4 Wide

Photos and text © 2005 by Derek Derks

March 22, 2006

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