8 FLYPAST June 2018briefi ngs
NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE
Harrier GR.3 restored in Britain for Estonian museum
Yorkshire-based Jet Art Aviation has
completed its restoration of Hawker
Siddeley Harrier GR.3 XZ994, and has
overseen its transportation to the
Estonian Aviation Museum where it’s
destined to be put on display.
The jet was built in 1981 and served
in Belize with 1417 Flight. Once retired
from frontline service it was used at
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire for
ground-based training. During this time,
the fuselage was mounted on a trolley
so that groundcrew could practise
loading aircraft inside Lockheed C-
transporters.The airframe was also used in
a crash rescue demonstration at
Wittering, Cambridgeshire, before being
transported to MOD Boscombe Down. It
was removed from the Wiltshire base by
Jet Art Aviation in April 2017.
The restoration carried out in Yorkshire
initially focused on sourcing missing
components, such as a nose cone,
canopy, numerous external access
panels and a new tailplane. The outrigger
undercarriage [extra gear beneath
wingtips for stability – ED] was also
missing, along with all wheels and tyres.
The wing required new fl aps, ailerons,fuel vent pipes and tips.
Over a ten-month period, the Jet
Art Aviation team (also see feature
beginning on page 94) conducted a basic
structural restoration and rebuild. It also
located and installed additional items
requested by the Estonian museum,
including drop tanks and pylons, plus
instrumentation and a Martin-Baker
ejection seat for the cockpit. A Rolls-
Royce Pegasus engine was also acquired- this will be placed on display alongside
the aircraft.
Harsh February weather in the UK
hampered the transportation of the
completed Harrier, with the so-called
‘Beast from the East’ delaying its
departure. On March 6 the jet was
moved by road to the Port of Tilbury
on the outskirts of London and was
then shipped across the North Sea to
Finland. It then crossed the Baltic Sea
from Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia, before
completing the fi nal leg by road to the
museum at Tartu. Bad weather in Estonia
intervened again and the jump jet fi nally
arrived at its new home on March 15.
All components, including the engine,
were deliveredThe restored Harrier at Jet Art Aviation’s
base in February. ALL VIA CHRIS WILSON-JAAHistorian and TV presenter Dan Snow has been
confi rmed as the new patron of Stow Maries
Great War Aerodrome in Essex. He said: “This
vital heritage site is an extraordinary place;
a moment in time captured for posterity and
commemoration. It must survive...as a salute
to the early aviators that our nation relied
upon.” http://www.stowmaries.org.ukThe de Havilland Moth Club’s Gathering of
Moths event, which was due to take place at
Old Warden, Bedfordshire on August 12, will
now be held at nearby Henlow on the same
date. Please note that the fl y-in is for club
members only and not open to the public. For
more details see the Moth Club website:
http://www.dhmothclub.co.uk PHOTO-BEN DUNNELL