home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
U.S. Attack Planes & Bombers
/
AMPC_AG.bin
/
attack
/
mox004.doc
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1980-01-10
|
2KB
|
48 lines
AV-8B HARRIER II
Wingspan: 30 ft., 3.5 in.
Length: 42 ft., 10 in.
Height: 11 ft., 3.5 in.
Weight: 29,750 lbs.
Engine: One Rolls-Royce F402-RR-402 turbojet
Engine thrust: 21,500 lbs.
Operating altitude: 51,000 ft.
Top speed: 662 mph
Maximum range: 1,550 miles
Date of service: 1983
This unique plane was developed by a British aircraft manufacturer called
Hawker Siddeley which is now part of British Aerospace. Hawker designed
an aircraft that could take off and land vertically. Like a helicopter,
the plane could hover and go backwards as well as sideways. It was a
concept that would revolutionize combat aircraft. Sold to the British
Royal Air Force as the Harrier, it was soon nicknamed the "Jump Jet".
Interest from the United States came in the late 1960s, when the Marine Corps
ordered 20 planes under the designation of AV-8A. The Marines eventually
ordered 100 AV-8As with most being built under license by McDonnel Douglas
in the United States. The aircraft suited the Marines well as they needed
a support operations craft to assist troops in remote places requiring
amphibious landings.
McDonnell Douglas developed the plane further. They gave it a new wing
design and an improved Rolls Royce engine. This new version was called
the AV-8B Harrier II. The Marines purchased 320 AV-8Bs, of which 28 were
two-seat trainers.
The AV-8B is built to fly straight up and down, but it can also take off
from a runway like a conventional plane. The fuselage and wings are able
to support more weight than their 9.5 ton limit for vertical takeoff; extra
weapons or fuel can be loaded to a maximum weight of 15 tons if the plane
is taking off from a runway. The AV-8B does not have great performance
in terms of speed or range. This is not as important as the AV-8B's ability
to accompany the ground forces wherever they may go. Its great carrying
capacity, hitting power and reliability are the AV-8B's greatest assets.
Armament includes a five-barrel General Electric 25mm gatling gun and a
wide variety of bombs and rockets. Six pylon positions under the wings
and one under the fuselage provide space for handing other weapons. Up
to sixteen 500 pound general purpose bombs can be carried, as well as
combinations of missiles, rockets, fuel tanks, and electronic jamming pods.