Ashburton Harrier GR3 XZ129

[hughw]

I've been looking for more information online on the Harrier GR3 at Ashburton Aviation Museum. I haven't been there myself yet, but its definitely a must do in future.

My main question for which I can't seem to find an answer for, is whether it is complete? and does it have a Pegasus with it/ in it?

[skyhawkdon]

From memory yes it has the engine fitted.

[thebrads]

I'm looking at photos i took of in in 2012, and it certainly looks complete. I took a pic of the front stage compressor.
Can email you my half dozen pics if you want them

[Bruce]

Its got the engine fitted - they wouldnt be able to put the all-important nozzles on otherwise, and it wouldnt sit right.

[baz62]

She arrived from the UK missing about two items.........both of them being cockpit instruments!

[Dave Homewood]

I'm fairly sure they had an ex-Harrier pilot who actually had flown that aircraft in service run up the engine shortly after it arrived. Am I right?

[nuuumannn]

Its got the engine fitted - they wouldnt be able to put the all-important nozzles on otherwise, and it wouldnt sit right.

Yep, engine fitted, but don't mean to be pedantic and not to cause any offence, nozzles are attached to the airframe, Bruce, not the engine and Harriers can sit with engine removed with little visible difference to when they have them. Here are some piccies. I helped to put DB Harrier XV277 together when it arrived at East Fortune.

Nozzle interior

The nozzle is driven by a gearbox mounted below the engine via torque tubes that drive a sprocket, which turns the chain assembly to the bottom left of the picture, which turns the nozzle.

XV277 no Pegasus

This is XV277 after completion with its engine alongside.

Nozzle opening

This is the right hand forward nozzle opening of XZ129 shortly after its arrival in NZ. The after part of the HP compressor section can be seen through the opening. The fwd nozzles exhaust LP compressor air.

Such a shame the RAF and RN got rid of theirs so soon. Brilliant aeroplane.

[baz62]

Feb 11, 2018 11:16:01 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I'm fairly sure they had an ex-Harrier pilot who actually had flown that aircraft in service run up the engine shortly after it arrived. Am I right?

Be great if they did. But I seem to recall seeing a note written on one of the front compressor blades visible in the intake. Can't recall what it said, possibly "Cracked"? Wouldn't run it if I saw that! Any of the Ashvegas guys on here know?

[hughw]

Thanks for the pics, the prospect of an engine run up sounds interesting. Would I be right in thinking parts for RR Pegasus engines are fairly easy to buy?

[Bruce]

Feb 11, 2018 13:25:55 GMT 12 baz62 said:

Feb 11, 2018 11:16:01 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I'm fairly sure they had an ex-Harrier pilot who actually had flown that aircraft in service run up the engine shortly after it arrived. Am I right?

Be great if they did. But I seem to recall seeing a note written on one of the front compressor blades visible in the intake. Can't recall what it said, possibly "Cracked"? Wouldn't run it if I saw that! Any of the Ashvegas guys on here know?

I'm fairly certain its never been run in New Zealand. The ex-Harrier Pilot who visited Ashburton shortly after its completion (At an SAA SportAvex) and gave a talk on it, was none other than Sean Perrot - of RNZAF and Spitfire PV270 fame...

[FlyingKiwi]

From my admittedly vague memories of seeing an operational one flying, the audiological experience would make it a bit difficult to fire it up in secret too.

[Dave Homewood]

I guess I must be confused regarding the running up. I thought it was Sean but was not too sure so didn't try to second guess that.

[mrjohn]

I understand the engine and the apu engine are both in the aircraft at Ashburton and I can confirm that the engine has never been run here.