Combat aircraft

Move 2016’ was a welcome opportunity

for the squadron to work hand-in-hand

with its Spanish Harrier colleagues and

even to join the Juan Carlos I aircraft

carrier. For the Italian pilots, two

landings on the ship and eight shore

landings on a dummy deck are sufficient

to maintain proficiency. AM-2 aluminum

matting has now been laid at Grottaglie

to represent the deck of the new aircraft

carrier Cavour. Working with landing

signals officers (LSOs), the ability to fly

field carrier landing practice (FCLP) at

their home base is a huge bonus for the

Harrier pilots.

After a period of significant

modernization, the Garibaldi is scheduled

to remain in service until 2025, but since

2009 the new Cavour (CVH 550) has

assumed the role of primary carrier. The

Cavour offers far greater versatility than

her predecessor, being able to support

HARRIER:

A BIT OF A

HANDFUL

Italy’s AV-8B+ Harrier IIs are powered

by a single Rolls-Royce F402-RR-408B

engine. Riding and controlling this

powerful unit is a careful art, and one

that has traditionally stood Harrier

pilots apart from their colleagues.

‘Every Harrier pilot holds an

indelible memory of the first time

they moved the nozzles from

conventional flight to the hover

stop,’ smiles CAPT Alex Sirni. ‘The

feeling on the body, the sudden

deceleration and finding yourself for

an instant suspended in the air, held

up by the mighty Pegasus engine.’

LT (Tenente di Vascello) Lamacchia

adds, ‘Taking off and landing

in STOVL [short take-off and

vertical landing] mode are the

most demanding and dangerous

elements of flying the Harrier. The

positioning of nozzles during take-

off and the management of the

engine power related to their angle

of rotation in landing phase are

fundamental for a successful result

in these operations. A clear mind,

strong knowledge of the procedures

and deep respect for the Harrier

are the essential characteristics for

pilots to efficiently fly this complex

and fascinating machine.’

Andrea Avian

Right: A pilot

and maintainers

with a jet out

by the dummy

deck, which runs

parallel with the

main runway at

Grottaglie.

Andrea Avian

Below: A

technician wheels

a Litening II

targeting pod to a

waiting Harrier II.

Dr Andreas Zeitler

http://www.combataircraft.net // April 2018 81

76-83 Italian Harriers C.indd 81 15/02/2018 13:50