Our Aircraft’s History

 

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B-3-MC Harrier II (S/N #161581 MSN 512013/13) then rebuilt as AV-8B+(R)-23-MC Harrier II  (MS #264, S/N #165306) ~ Our Harrier was manufactured..... The history on this aircraft is being researched.

Specifications/Performance (AV-8B)

  • Role: Ground attack
  • Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
  • First Flight: November 5, 1981
  • Introduction: January 1985
  • Retired from the US Military: 2026
  • Number built: 337
  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 46 ft 4 in
  • Wingspan: 30 ft 4 in
  • Height: 11 ft 8 in
  • Empty weight: 13,968 lb
  • Max takeoff weight – Rolling: 31,000 lb; Vertical: 20,755 lb
  • Engines: 1 x Rolls-Royce Pegasus F402-RR-408 (Mk 107) vectored-thrust turbofan, 23,500 lbf thrust
  • Max speed: 673 mph
  • Combat range: 300 nmi
  • Ferry range: 1,800 nmi
  • Service Ceiling: 

Armament, notable:

  • Guns: 1x General Dynamics GAU-12 Equalizer 25mm, 5 barreled rotary cannon mounted under-fuselage in the left pod, 300 rounds in right pod
  • Hardpoints: 6x under-wing pylon and 1x under-fuselage with 9,200 lb capacity, combinations of:
    • Missiles: Air-to-air: 4x AIM-9 Sidewinder or 4x AIM-120 AMRAAM; Air-to-surface: 4x AGM-65 E/F Maverick or 4x AGM-122 Sidearm
    • Bombs: combinations of the CBU-100/Mk Rockeye II cluster bombs, Mark (81-83) unguided bombs, GBU-38, GBU-32, GBU-54 or Mark 77 Fire bomb
    • Other: Intrepid Tiger II electronic jammer, drop tanks, 

  • Museum display note: To be determined.  

    Designed to replace: Hawker Siddeley Harrier (AV-8A)

    Designed from: Hawker Siddeley Harrier (AV-8A)

    Intended successor aircraft: Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightening II