Sea harrier @ Bankstown 1986

Tony P · #1 3rd November 2010, 05:59 PM

Hi All,

A Sea Harrier visited bankstown during the RAN's 75th celebrations in 1986. Can anyone confirm it was part of the "Air Fair" that was on in the same year?

Thanks

Tony

Rob R · #2 3rd November 2010, 07:25 PM

I think it was and they parked over at HdH, which was also open to the public. I've got a few photos of them.

Grahame Hutchison · #3 3rd November 2010, 09:12 PM

I was there and will see if I still have the negatives.

Tony P · #4 3rd November 2010, 09:26 PM

Thanks Graeme,
Look forward to the info. I'm sure I've got a program from the day but can't find it.
I think the pilot at the time may have been an Australian on exchange. Not 100% sure on that one.

Cheers

Tony

Peter Agatsiotis · #5 4th November 2010, 08:03 AM

The Harrier at Bankstown (4.10.86) was XZ499 and we also had Queen's Flight BAE146 ZE700 at Mascot.

Lots of Navy ships in the harbour and a big air show at Nowra on Sunday 6th Oct.

There are a few photos from Nowra at the link below

Peter Agatsiotis · #6 4th November 2010, 08:32 AM

Slightly 'off-topic' but there was a question about the RAN on Who wants to be a Millionaire?
The question was 'In what year was the Royal Australian Navy established (could have been 'formed')?

Quick maths (86 - 75 = 11)

So I said 1911 and my wife was in shock that I knew the answer!

Nathan Long · #7 4th November 2010, 04:43 PM

As well as next year being the 100th Anniversary.

Mick.B · #8 4th November 2010, 07:56 PM

I seen it come into Laverton RAAF Base. Quite sure around that time. Remember it was a Sunday. Got a feeling the Pilot was from Bendigo. Think he went there aswell.

Jethro H · #9 9th November 2010, 06:48 AM

Just by chance we were discussing the Harriers at work with some work colleges who are former RAN. One was actually assigned and went to England to bring home "HMAS Australia" until the the RN decided to keep HMS Invincible for themselves. We were not getting Harriers anyway as it was planned as a Helicopter ship only... anyway off track....

So I found this website last week which should answer many questions about Harriers down under:

http://www.harrier.org.uk/history/hi...Rdownunder.htm

Some interesting stuff as I had some photos of her in Sydney in 1983 when I went on board, I will find some taken on the deck. But I remember the issue that Bob Hawke refused her into Garden Island Dry Dock as the Royal Navy refused to declare if they had or did not have nuclear weapons on board.

Grahame Hutchison · #10 9th November 2010, 02:11 PM

From thread "A Different View Of Sydney".

RN Harrier FRS.Mk 1 003 on the HMS Invincible at Garden Island in December 1983 - this was the year after the Falklands War where
the Sea Harrier GR.3 performed brilliantly. The initial 20 Sea Harriers were joined by another 8, 6 were lost through accident or ground fire,
but none were lost in air combat.

RN SRS1 Sea Harrier XZ498 001 at Richmond in October 1988