Aviation, post your photos

T-34 Mentor with a passenger taking a selfie

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JAK_9466

I have only ever taken one 'selfie' as i can't stand the dammed things.

Errrrr

Takeoff roll

IMAGE LINK: https://www.flickr.com …021/in/datepost​ed-public/

JAK_9483

US Air Force Thunderbird (from my rooftop)

Mig 21 Hermeskeil Germany

Ground staff ready to enter the cabin after landing in Sao Paulo Airport, Brazil.

Lycomech96 wrote in post #19301712
That is an AV-8 Harrier VTOL. There was never a two seat version so it was quite tricky to learn how to fly it hovering. The instructor watched you from the ground and advised you over the radio. When he told you to, "Throw out your wallet!" It meant you were about to kill yourself in a very hot fireball.

Nice story but sadly it is entirely incorrect. The aircraft is a Harrier GR.7 which was the RAF version of the US AV-8B. All of the Harrier family had two seat trainer versions. In US service these were designated the TAV-8A and TAV-8B.

Ian

There is more than one Harrier model plus a similar-looking aircraft "Kestrel".

Two-seat trainer in the next set.

Going up!

gort wrote in post #19303726
Nice story but sadly it is entirely incorrect. The aircraft is a Harrier GR.7 which was the RAF version of the US AV-8B. All of the Harrier family had two seat trainer versions. In US service these were designated the TAV-8A and TAV-8B.

Ian

Well, the original version was the one I referred to. The two seat version came along later. I stand by my story.

"The Harrier has been described by pilots as "unforgiving" to fly.[41] The aircraft is capable of forward flight (where it behaves like a fixed-wing aircraft above its stall speed) and VTOL (where the conventional lift and control surfaces are ineffective) along with STOL. Accelerating and decelerating transitions between hovering and conventional flight required considerable skill and concentration on the part of the pilot, especially in crosswind conditions.[42] Pilots for the combined UK/US/Germany trials on the Kestrel were first given several hours of helicopter tuition[N 2][43] Royal Air Force pilots destined for Harrier squadrons were usually selected from those with single-seat fast-jet experience. On two occasions the Royal Air Force explored whether experienced helicopter pilots, with their ability to hover and transition to forward flight, would be a better source for Harrier squadrons. In both cases the pilots were completely out of their depth with conventional flight, navigation, orientation and weapons delivery at the high speeds of a fast jet.[42] With the introduction of two-seat Harriers, less experienced pilots were introduced."

If you are interested, there is a transcript of a seminar held by the RAF Historical Society on the Harrier, from a RAF point of view.

There is indeed a mention that during the early unit conversions, prior to the 2 seat trainer being introduced, of advice being offered, ".....over the radio from a caravan situated by the VTOL pad...".

https://www.rafmuseum.​org.uk …the-RAF-Harrier-Story.pdf

Lycomech96 wrote in post #19304146
Well, the original version was the one I referred to. The two seat version came along later. I stand by my story.

"The Harrier has been described by pilots as "unforgiving" to fly.[41] The aircraft is capable of forward flight (where it behaves like a fixed-wing aircraft above its stall speed) and VTOL (where the conventional lift and control surfaces are ineffective) along with STOL. Accelerating and decelerating transitions between hovering and conventional flight required considerable skill and concentration on the part of the pilot, especially in crosswind conditions.[42] Pilots for the combined UK/US/Germany trials on the Kestrel were first given several hours of helicopter tuition[N 2][43] Royal Air Force pilots destined for Harrier squadrons were usually selected from those with single-seat fast-jet experience. On two occasions the Royal Air Force explored whether experienced helicopter pilots, with their ability to hover and transition to forward flight, would be a better source for Harrier squadrons. In both cases the pilots were completely out of their depth with conventional flight, navigation, orientation and weapons delivery at the high speeds of a fast jet.[42] With the introduction of two-seat Harriers, less experienced pilots were introduced."

It's helpful to cite your references:
https://en.wikipedia.o​rg/wiki/Harrier_Jump_J​et

Blue Angels Fat Albert from yesterday's Homecoming Airshow.