1969 Daily Mail Transatlantic Air Race Harrier

[Nigel Bunker]

I rather fancy building one of these. Now as I understand, two Harrier GR.1s of 1 Sqn were use - XV741 and XV744. For the race they had underwing tanks on the inboard pylons, the outboard pylons and the centreline pylon was not carried and strakes replaced the Aden gun pods. The wings had the extended ferry tips and the aircraft were in Dark Sea Grey/Dark Green/Light Aircraft Grey gloss polyurethane finish, red/white /blue "D" type roundels and matching fin flashes with a 1 Squadron badge on the fin (these are the days before they adopted the two white triangles around an emblem on the nose).

I seem to remember an conversion article in an early Scale Models magazine, good except they used the wrong uppersurface grey. Oh that I still had it to hand.

Have I got the aircraft details right?

Edited February 1, 2012 by Nigel Bunker

[huvut76g7gbbui7]

I rather fancy building one of these. Now as I understand, two Harrier GR.1s of 1 Sqn were use - XV741 and XV744. For the race they had underwing tanks on the inboard pylons, the outboard pylons and the centreline pylon was not carried and strakes replaced the Aden gun pods. The wings had the extended ferry tips and the aircraft were in Dark Sea Grey/Dark Green/Light Aircraft Grey gloss polyurethane finish, red/white /blue "D" type roundels and matching fin flashes with a 1 Squadron badge on the fin (these are the days before they adopted the two white triangles around an emblem on the nose).

I seem to remember an conversion article in an early Scale Models magazine, good except they used the wrong uppersurface grey. Oh that I still had it to hand.

Have I got the aircraft details right?

Just had a quick look at Francis K Mason's book on the Harrier.Photo of XV744 (Port side) is as you describe. Photo of XV741 (Stb side) is as you describe but does not appear to have the Squadron badge. It also appears to have something light coloured painted on the side just forward of the windscreen. However a photo in Warbirds Illustrated shows it exactly as you describe but with the addition of what appears to be 'speed tape' over the panel behind the intake on the fin leading edge.

Both have the flight refuelling probe fitted.

Sorry I am unable to scan any of the pics as scanner deceased!

Richard.

[Duncan B]

Din't they have the refuelling probe fitted too?

[Giorgio N]

Just had a quick look at Francis K Mason's book on the Harrier.Photo of XV744 (Port side) is as you describe. Photo of XV741 (Stb side) is as you describe but does not appear to have the Squadron badge. It also appears to have something light coloured painted on the side just forward of the windscreen. However a photo in Warbirds Illustrated shows it exactly as you describe but with the addition of what appears to be 'speed tape' over the panel behind the intake on the fin leading edge.

Both have the flight refuelling probe fitted.

Sorry I am unable to scan any of the pics as scanner deceased!

Richard.

To add to this information, there are two pictures showing both sides of XV741 in Davies & Thornborough "The Harrier Story", the light coloured something in front of the windscreen is a repetition of the serial XV741, most likely in white. Both show the 100 gallon tanks, extended wingtips and refuelling probe. There's no squadron insignia on the tail or anywhere

Edited February 1, 2012 by Giorgio N

[sloegin57]

I rather fancy building one of these. Now as I understand, two Harrier GR.1s of 1 Sqn were use - XV741 and XV744. For the race they had underwing tanks on the inboard pylons, the outboard pylons and the centreline pylon was not carried and strakes replaced the Aden gun pods. The wings had the extended ferry tips and the aircraft were in Dark Sea Grey/Dark Green/Light Aircraft Grey gloss polyurethane finish, red/white /blue "D" type roundels and matching fin flashes with a 1 Squadron badge on the fin (these are the days before they adopted the two white triangles around an emblem on the nose).

I seem to remember an conversion article in an early Scale Models magazine, good except they used the wrong uppersurface grey. Oh that I still had it to hand.

Have I got the aircraft details right?

Hi Nigel,

Not quite. The article you refer to was the November 1973 edition which I just happen to have in the iMac in .pdf form.

The Air Race was known as "Operation Blue Nylon" and the Harriers also carried IFR (In-Flight-Refuelling) probes. The Royal Navy took part with a couple of Phantoms and Number 543 Squadron also flew a couple of Victor SR.Mk.2's in the Race. Although the Harrier "Officially" won the race, it must be borne in mind that both they and the Phantoms were refuelled in flight and thus were "towed" part of the way (by Victors) and in fact Number 543 Squadron, as history will (eventually) prove, won the Race by actually flying all the way without refuelling and Handley-Pages finest proved it's worth yet again.

Biased ?. Yep - I was serving on Number 543 Squadron at the time and as the "Boss" briefed us, "We'll knock the spots off this jumped up little jet" - and we did.

Sadly all good things must come to an end and when Number 543 Squadron finally and quietly bowed out, I was posted - to Wittering - and Harriers !!

Seriously Nigel, if you would like a copy of the .pdf (6mb), PM me and I'll send it over.

Regards,

Dennis W Robinson

[JohnT]

Didn't "Aeroplane" or "Flypast" run an article with photos in the last 3-4 months on the Air Race with pics of the Harriers?

[Nigel Bunker]

Thanks guys - I'll get into the loft and dig out my Esci AV-8A - I am sure there is a Bobcat Harrier T.2 which can donate the wingtips.

And how could I forget the refuelling probe? Just a case of missing the obvious I guess.

[kspriss]

I am sure there is a Bobcat Harrier T.2 which can donate the wingtips.

Yikes.... I'd like to get hold of one of those again for a nostalgia build, was one of my first conversion projects

Steve

[PHREAK]

Just as a matter of interest, XV744 now resides at the Royal Military College Shrivenham in it's last guise as a GR.3

[Michou]

I rather fancy building one of these. Now as I understand, two Harrier GR.1s of 1 Sqn were use - XV741 and XV744. For the race they had underwing tanks on the inboard pylons, the outboard pylons and the centreline pylon was not carried and strakes replaced the Aden gun pods. The wings had the extended ferry tips and the aircraft were in Dark Sea Grey/Dark Green/Light Aircraft Grey gloss polyurethane finish, red/white /blue "D" type roundels and matching fin flashes with a 1 Squadron badge on the fin (these are the days before they adopted the two white triangles around an emblem on the nose).

I seem to remember an conversion article in an early Scale Models magazine, good except they used the wrong uppersurface grey. Oh that I still had it to hand.

Have I got the aircraft details right?

Here is a photo of XV741 taking off from Somerstown Coal Yard, St. Pancras. Just discernible through the clouds of coal dust are those who thought it would be a "good" idea to be close to witness the event. One photographer had the bright idea of getting himself in, or on, an adjacent building.

Mike

[Paul J]

Not quite as interesting when it came to aircraft types, but there was another air race in 1969. Mid December, it was from London to Sydney! I recall skipping a few days off school to go to Gatwick to log the participants, a lot from OZ, which were mainly light aircraft types. One that was eagerly awaited but never made it was a Seagull VH-ALB alias Walrus to us and it now lives in the RAF Museum.

Needless to say we got found out seeing as there were about a dozen of us all from the same year but different classes and all off the few days. A bit obvious too, was we all were spotters and a couple of teachers knew this...... and so we served our punishment!! Worth it though and it was cold!!

Sir Francis Chichester waved them off. I have a few black/white pics but not brilliant. Somewhere I have still got the programme.

Edited February 3, 2012 by Paul J