Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier
USMC VMA-231 "Ace of Spades"
MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, 1973
(Corgi Aviation Archive AA32403)
- Engine: One 21,500 lb thrust Rolls Royce Pegasus Mk 103 turbofan
- Span: 25 ft 3 in
- Length: 45 ft 7 in
- Height: 11 ft 4 in
- Weight: 12,190 lb empty / 17,260 lb loaded / 25,350 lb max takeoff
- Crew: One
- Max Speed: 735 mph
- Service Ceiling: 49,200 ft
- Max Range: 1,200 miles
- Armament: Two 30 mm ADEN ccannon pods under fuselage; up to 5,000 lb of ordnance on 4 underwing and 1 fuselage hard points
- Notes: The Harrier has become famous as the world's first vertical take-off and landing strike fighter, ever since the prototype Hawker P.1127 flew in 1960. The United States placed an initial order of 12 Harriers under the designation AV-8A, but these proved so successful that the order was increased to 110, including eight two-seaters. These aircraft can carry AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles for air-to-air combat and the USMC have adapted their Harriers to use thrust-vectoring (VIFF) in dog-fight situations. VMA-231 'Aces' was the first U.S. Marine Corps Harrier squadron, formed on the 15th May 1973 at Cherry Point, North Carolina. 158390 is the subject of this model and was one of the first USMC Harriers delivered and wears the squadron's 'Ace of Spades' on the nose.
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