McDonnell Douglas / BAE Systems AV-8B Harrier II

eli1483d 🇬🇧

3h ago · © Unknown

Spanish harrier taxiing at prestwick airport

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McDonnell Douglas / Boeing (original: Hawker Siddeley) Harrier II (AV-8B)

McDonnell Douglas / BAE Systems AV-8B Harrier II

Aircraft

AV-8B Harrier II AV8B

Spanish Navy (Armada Española) standard grey tactical

01-926

Registration

Airline

Spanish Navy (Armada Española)

Manufacturer

McDonnell Douglas / BAE Systems

Gear

Canon EOS R7 EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

Achievements

Rare Bird, Vintage Voyager, Airbus Aficionado, Military Maverick, First Catch

5 badges earned

Photo grade

Silver

Score: 86.0

Great tight crop on the Harrier cockpit; the waving pilot with phone adds personality and draws the viewer in!

Location

The mound

Glasgow Prestwick Airport · PIK/EGPK

55.5015, -4.5772

Open map

Glasgow Prestwick Airport PIK

Airport

Insights

Aviation History

Only operational V/STOL jet in NATO for decades; essential for navies without catapult-equipped carriers. Spanish Navy is one of the last users globally.

Fleet Rarity

Spanish Navy Harriers are very rare; fewer than 15 remain in Spanish service.

Record Flights

Participated in NATO operations, Falklands/Malvinas history though British variants; used in Mediterranean deployments.

Safety & Events

Harriers have a history of unique V/STOL operations and several non-fatal incidents due to complex flight envelope.

Future Outlook

Likely to be retired by end of decade, pending F-35B or other V/STOL replacement.

Specifications

Rolls-Royce Pegasus

Engine

9.25 m

Wingspan

14.12 m

Length

3,524 km

Range

865 km/h

Speed

1 (pilot, single seat) / Some versions 2 seats for training

Capacity

14,061 kg

MTOW

3.55 m

Height

95 kN (21,000 lbf)

Thrust

Not officially rated by ICAO (military); extremely loud, especially in VTOL mode

Noise