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From: leif@sugar.hackercorp.com (Lee King)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Autorotation of Harriers
Summary: Discover Channel
Message-ID: <1990Dec15.013344.15279@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 15 Dec 90 01:33:44 GMT
References: <1990Dec6.021723.18639@cbnews.att.com> <1990Dec12.031644.10789@cbnews.att.com>
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From: leif@sugar.hackercorp.com (Lee King)

Henry Spencer (henry@zoo.toronto.edu) wrote:

>I'm not aware of one, and am skeptical; at the very least, there
>would have to be a manual override, or things like ski-jump
>takeoffs would not be possible.  (Ski-jump technique is full
>thrust *forward* until you hit the jump, at which point the
>nozzles are moved to a compromise angle that continues forward
>acceleration but provides some lift as well.  I think.) Takeoffs
>in general, in fact, wouldn't be practical without an override,
>since Harriers very rarely make true vertical takeoffs -- even a
>very short takeoff roll greatly increases payload.

   Well, I only know what I see on _Wings_ (on the Discovery
Channel) and their show on the Harrier leads me to believe that
there is no such automatic doohicky(tm), at least not on Brit
Harriers.  
   The attitude control is a lever located next to the
throttle (on the pilot's left).  It moves over approximately 100
degrees of arc (from all the way forward to slightly past
vertical, thrusting BACKWARDS!).  When making an assisted short
takeoff, the pilot sets a simple slide catch on the lever to
limit its travel to somewhere between level and vertical, the
amount depending on how he wants to do the takeoff.  Then he puts
it in the forward thrusting position and starts his roll.  When
he reachs the desired speed he pulls it sharply back (to the
stop) and takes off with the engines vectored to the preset
position.
   Does that make sense?


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