Harrier GR.3 gunpod stencils?

[Johnson]

The Harrier GR.3 featured on the Britmodeller Harrier walkaround (GR.3 XZ997 at The RAF Museum) has gunpods with GUT9 and GUT10 stencils;

 

pic @Julien - thanks Julien, great photos

 

I've seen another photo (that I can't reproduce here but it's here) stenciled GUT55. Is this something to do with the gunpod, and should I add a GUTxx to my Falklands War GR.3? Or maybe it was just a stores number at RAF Gutersloh?

 

Any advice much appreciated!

[Selwyn]

All gun pods  (and Guns!) were given a local number, GUT being Gutersloh  to make it easier to control them, and each component was individually numbered so the parts did not get interchanged between pods. and it also enabled flying hours to be correctly recorded as they frequently were moved between aircraft.

If you look closely the same type of number protocol was also seen on all the pylons as well, even the ejection seat! Wittering Aircraft had WIT numbers. the same system was used on most RAF aircraft types. so Tornado's or Buccaneers might have Bruggen or Honington station monograms.

 

Falklands jets would probably have WIT numbers as that was 1Sqn's base.

 

Selwyn

[bentwaters81tfw]

Our museum example has the port pod stencilled WITT P6 throughout, yet the Starboard pod is WITT 43 with WITT 26 nose section and GUT 16 rear.

[tweeky]

Seats were the same locally marked ie TTTE were Cott XX