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The Pima Air & Space Museum recently rolled out their freshly refurbished BAe Sea Harrier FA2, a former Royal Navy example which served in the Fleet Air Arm as ZH810. This image depicts the SHAR being towed out to join four other Harrier variants on the display line outside... meanwhile a former RAF Harrier GR.5 is coming to the end of her restoration too, and it will only be a short time before she too joins her brethren on exterior display. (image via PASM)
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Back in September, 2018, we reported that the Pima Air & Space Museum near Tucson, Arizona had just taken delivery of former Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm BAe Sea Harrier FA2 ZH810. In addition to former Royal Air Force Harrier GR.5 ZD353, which the museum had received in May, 2017, there were now six distinct variants of the famous jump-jet on hand at Pima, more than at any other facility in the world. Museum staff got straight to work refurbishing the sleek naval fighter, and they have just completed the project and rolled her out alongside their burgeoning Vertical Take Off and Landing fleet. The Harrier GR.5 shared time in Pima’s restoration shop with the SHAR, and it too is close to being ready for display in the Harrier historical lineup. Bravo to the Pima Air & Space Museum for telling the story of this important breed of combat aircraft in such a comprehensive fashion!
SHAR ZH810 in Pima’s restoration hangar back on December 7th, 2018. You can just make out the Harrier GR.5 in the background to the right. (photo via PASM)
Sea Harrier ZH810 coming close to the completion of her repaint on December 11th, 2018. You can clearly see Harrier GR.5 ZD353 to her rear. (photo via PASM)
The SHAR sitting alongside her brethren on January 10th, 2019: (l-r) Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3 XV804, Hawker Siddeley XV-6A Kestrel 64-18264, McDonnell Douglas AV-8C Harrier Bu.159241 and McDonnell Douglas TAV-8A Harrier Bu.159382. (photo via PASM)
The fully re-assembled, but partially paint-stripped Harrier GR.5 in Pima’s Restoration Hangar on November 27th, 2018. (photo via PASM)
Harrier GR.5 ZD353 is masked off for repainting. Here you can see that she has received her coat of primer paint. (photo via PASM)
Harrier GR.5 ZD353 after having received a coat of primer paint in the Pima Air & Space Museum’s restoration hangar. (photo via PASM)
Harrier GR.5 in the Pima Restoration Hangar on December 19th, 2018. She has just received her green camouflage paint. While the use of gloss paint was never standard on RAF Harriers, PASM has opted to go for gloss paint because of its durability and ease of cleaning in comparison to the more typical matte finish. Besides, the harsh desert sun and abrasion from sand storms usually takes the shine off fairly quickly. (photo via PASM)
ZD353 receiving her markings in Pima’s restoration hangar, seen here on January 7th, 2019. It is clear that she will be joining her sister airframes on the flight line in the very near future. (photo via PASM)
A former French Navy Dassault Étendard IVM arrived at Pima on December 18th following a long journey on a flat bed trailer from her previous home in New York City at the Intrepid Sea-Air&Space Museum. The Dassault Super Étendard, the Étendard IVM’s younger brother, fought against British Harriers and Sea Harriers during the Falklands War in 1982 while serving in the Argentine Navy. It will be interesting to see this airframe placed nearby the Harriers once her refurbishment has been completed. (photo via PSAM)
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
