RAE Beford photograph of Harrier T.4 XW 175. First flown in 1969, XW 175 was delivered to RAE Bedford in 1975. It then spent the next 33 years expanding the VSTOL envelope at Bedford and then Boscombe Down where it eventually became the VSTOL fly-by-wire vectored thrust technology demonstrator operated by Qinetic (VAAC). Retired in 2008 it now resides at Cosford.
HMS Hermes (R12) Hawker Harrier Trials 1977, Harrier GR.1 XV281, Harrier T.4A XW175 from RAE Bedford, Harrier GR.3 XZ138 and G-VTOL Harrier Mk.52 two-seater V/STOL company demonstrator.
The trials involved four Harriers, two single-seaters and two twin-seaters, aboard Hermes, They were designed to look in particular at the ability of the aircraft to operate from a pitching and rolling flight deck at night or in poor weather. All four aircraft were given different tasks within a programme covering investigation of various stores configurations, handling on the approach, head-up display symbology and handling with simulated Sea Harrier centre-of-gravity locations.
via the quite exceptional David's World on flickr here
