W

hen it was introduced

to RAF service in

1969 the Harrier was

a revolutionary aircraft with

a unique vertical take-off and

landing (VTOL) capability. Pilots

had to learn not only a new aircraft

type, but also a completely new

mode of flight, and the first

Harrier pilots had to learn it

without the benefit of a two-seat

trainer. However, the requirement

had been recognised at an early

stage, and development of a

two-seat trainer proceeded along

with the single-seat version.

The T2 prototype, XW174, first

flew in April 1969, and the first

operational example, XW266,

arrived at RAF Wittering (“Home

of the Harrier”) in July 1970. As

numbers built up they were put

to use training pilots for the

newly-forming 1, 3, 4, and 20

Squadrons. T2s served with the

Harrier Operational Conversion

Unit, 233 OCU, as well as with

each operational squadron.

As the single-seat variant

was developed from the GR1, so

the two-seater was developed

alongside it, the main

difference between each

mark being the variant

of Pegasus engine fitted.

The final variant of the

1st generation two-seater

was the T8. The American

equivalent was the TAV-8A,

and this served with the USMC,

the Spanish Navy, and Thai Navy.

Like the Spitfire, the Harrier

is one of those aircraft that is

instantly familiar, even to many

KIT DETAILS

MANUFACTURER: KINETIC

PRODUCT NUMBER: 48040

SCALE: 1/

TYPE: INJECTION MOULDED

STATUS: NEW TOOL

PANEL LINES: RECESSED

VERSION/MARKINGS OPTIONS: FIVE

VARIANTS, 10 MARKING OPTIONS.

VERTICAL

D O U B L E

Kinetic 1/48 T-Harrier (Harrier

Trainer) by Michael Chilestone

14 • OCTOBER 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

BY SACCO DE VRIES

T-HARRIER

BY MICHAEL CHILESTONE

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