Planes and Choppers Photos

Sorry, this is actually a P.1127, the last of the six Development Batch aircraft which preceded the Harrier. It first flew in July 1967.

Added by Peter John Langsdale on 22 October 2008.

This is Harrier XV281. I worked many Years on this Aircraft & XV277 when at Rolls Royce Flight Test in Bristol. It was always a pleasure to have John Farley Visit to fly but John Fawcett and John lewis were our flight Test Pilots. Miss those days.....

Added by Ken Lee . on 23 August 2009.

I was one of a small crew of Abingdon based RAF riggers that worked on this aircraft at Filton in 1982. It was the cleanest Harrier I had ever seen!

Added by David Jones on 20 August 2010.

I worked on this aircraft for around 10 years at A&AEE Boscombe Down and she was known as a dbHarrier, the last of the 6 of that type. She did a huge amount of trials work including trialing the system of VIFF'ing. She also was the first aircraft to complete trails along with XV740 on HMS Eagle, during 1970, to look at the viability of operating from an aircraft carrier. The trial was a complete success, although there were some frightening moments as you would expect. A much loved aircraft.

Added by Roger Thurston on 10 January 2011.

Dave...Were you on the crew that came and re-sealed the fuel tanks. If so it was a job that I was glad you done and not me . scraping thikol was never my favorite job...Happy New Year from FL

Added by Ken Lee on 10 January 2011.

Hi Ken, Yes that's right, a very tedious job indeed! I drove past Filton about 18 months ago, it's changed quite a bit since '82!

Added by David Jones on 18 January 2011.

What are the colours on the wheel legs on the wings and under the planes main body? I am reconstructing this model in 1:24 scale using an old Airfix kit I have

Added by John Erik - Norway on 22 February 2011.

If my memory serve's me right the colour your looking for is "light aircraft grey" but cant remember the paint code, as that depended on the various manufacturers of the paints.
Hope this helps and you can source the correct colour, happy modelling.

Added by Richard Simpson on 22 February 2011.

Hi Thanks for your timely reply. I believe this is the same colour as the fuselage - is this correct? RAF Light Aircraft Grey has paint code BS 627, equivalent of FS 26440. Humbrol paint code is 166 I believe. Thanks in advance. I am to model a Gr.1 in arctic scheme, since I saw this plane in action when serving as a liaison in the army in Norway in the 80s

John Erik of Norway

Added by John Erik on 07 March 2011.

The leg fairing colours were split, the top of the fairing, or back if the wheels were down, matched the camouflage colour of the upper wing and the underside of the fairing, or front if the wheels were down, was light grey to match the wings. Don't forget all dbHarriers were gloss paint.
Hope that helps.

Added by Roger Thurston on 07 March 2011.

Hi John Erik, I hope we get to see you project (finished or not) on the Transport Models site? (see bottom of page for link)

Added by Marcel Gommers on 07 March 2011.

Hi Roger
I am grateful for your guidance- thank you very much!!
Maybe I`ll upload a picture on the Transport Models site


Added by John Erik on 09 March 2011.

Hi, Ive jut taken ownership of XV281 and would welcome any in service pictures.

Added by Jim Sharp on 04 December 2011.

Fancy that I didn't realise she was still in one piece. You'll have to tell me the story of how you came to own XV281.
I have several pictures of her on HMS Eagle when she was the first Harrier to take off by running down the flight deck from as far back as we dared.
Full throttle, nozzles aft, brakes off and then rotate the nozzles to full down as she slipped off the bow. If you let me have your address I'll gladly get them scanned and forward them to you. My email address is lazybaguette@hotmail.co.uk

Added by Roger Thurston on 09 December 2011.

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