snickers Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 (edited) When a Harrier II jet is parked and engine off, is the airbrake always on deployed position? Is it due to gravity or the abscence of hydraulics that causes it to be deployed? Any photos showing it retracted while parked? Edited April 30, 2015 by snickers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 (edited) Hello, Not sure but if I remember correctly airbrakes are somehow linked with landing gears on Harriers. They should be deployed whenever landing gears are down. Cheers Eric B. Edited April 30, 2015 by Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snickers Posted April 30, 2015 Author Share Posted April 30, 2015 Though I'd seen some photos hovering but the airbrakes retracted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCAFFAN Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 I understand that the airbrake and guns form an "airpocket" that is beneficial to the hovering process such that even if the guns are off they mount the replacement fillets that perform the same duties, so that the airbrake is down to cause this effect... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snickers Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 If airbrakes are deployed when parked, it's going to be additional work for us modellers to work on the airbrake part of the model kit. Only on the big scale kits that you do not need to work on that issue. Well, challenges are part of scale modelling! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric B. Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 (edited) Hi, If airbrakes are deployed when parked, it's going to be additional work for us modellers to work on the airbrake part of the model kit. Only on the big scale kits that you do not need to work on that issue. Well, challenges are part of scale modelling! Are you working on the Hasegawa 1/72nd scale kit. If so, yes that is a one of the shortcomings of their kit, though all my Harriers IIs where built from that model... Note : Aires/quickboost have released a 1/72nd scale Harrier II airbrake in resin form. Please allow me a link to may Hasegawa Harriers iis here on ARC - You can se the USMC lachine airbrake deployed (same but not showing beneath the RAF aircraft) http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=193792&st=0&p=1815830&hl=harrier&fromsearch=1entry1815830 Though I'd seen some photos hovering but the airbrakes retracted. Until now I am been able to find Harrier IIs hovering with airbrake retracted , but all are gear up (and vice versa). But I have no access to technical data and I stand to be corrected. I am been writing from memory only. Cheers Eric B. Edited May 1, 2015 by Eric B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snickers Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 Yes Eric you're right when hovering but the LGs and airbrakes are ALL retracted. I just checked the photos I saved for reference. Actually my scale is 1/144. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor01 Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 (edited) The speed brakes are not linked to the landing gear in any way. There is a seperate switch. Pilots, contrary to popular belief, pilots are not the smartest critters on this planet and make mistakes more often than you might think. Which ever way you decide to build your kit it will be right. When in doubt, blame the pilot. Edited May 1, 2015 by Aggressor01 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 The speed brakes are not linked to the landing gear in any way. There is a seperate switch. Pilots, contrary to popular belief, pilots are not the smartest critters on this planet and make mistakes more often than you might think. Which ever way you decide to build your kit it will be right. When in doubt, blame the pilot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snickers Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 So Aggressor01, I also noticed on F-18s that almost all have their flaps lowered when parked. Which I rarely see Harriers with flaps lowered when they are parked on tarmacs or on ships. So as on F-15s, F-16s and few. I just thought that it was gravity and no hydraulics that lower the airbrake when parked. Though I'd never seen a photo with the airbrake up while parked. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor01 Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 You will get some "droop" from gravity and lack of hydraulic pressure. The mechs will "usually" and I use that term loosely, raise the speed brake when they change the engine. After a few days it sags but only a couple inches. As for the hornets they lower the flaps, ailerons, and hor. stabs for maintenance purposes. I've witnessed some harrier pilots do some dumb stuff but they have the coolest landings. The best from test pilots at China Lake. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snickers Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 Thanks Aggressor01. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
riffraff Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 I have pictures of the Harrier hovering with gear down and the airbrake is also down. I also have a pic of the Harrier taking off and the airbrake is down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snickers Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Riffraff, I guess photos with both LG and airbrake down is very common. BUT never seen a parked harrier with the airbrake retracted/up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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