XZ493/001/N - British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS1

RNAS Yeovilton - also known as HMS Heron - is one of the Navy's two principal air bases, and one of the busiest military airfields in the UK. It is home to more than 100 aircraft operated both front-line squadrons and training units and the world famous Fleet Air Arm Museum. You can take a virtual tour here.

In Dec 2010 our beautiful Harriers were " retired " despite having another 7 years of flying life left and having had over a billion pounds spent on them to update them. In June 2011 the MoD denied rumours that they would be sold to the U.S. Marine Corps. In Dec 2011 the U.S. Marine Corps took delivery of their newly acquired Harrier jump jets which they gleefully proclaimed they'd paid peanuts for ( £34 million ) ... Our replacements for these amazing planes will only be operational in 2020 ... if we actually have a carrier ( ship ) sorted out by then

Anyway, this baby first flew on 26th November 1980. Assigned to HMS Invicible, she spent 4 months in 1982 in the Falklands. In 1994, after 2684.15 hours flying time she crashed into the Adriatic on approach to HMS Invincible. Luckily, she was lovingly put back together and is now proudly on display here ( behind me that is! ).