Harrier Jump Jet

By Robert Jubb (17 June 2002)

The GR7 is currently operational with 3 front line Royal Air Force Squadrons and the Operational Conversion Unit. Each aircraft carries forward-looking infra-red (FLIR) equipment which, when used in conjunction with the pilot’s night vision goggles (NVG’s), provides low-level night capability. The aircraft is optimized to low level operations at subsonic speeds, however, the Harrier is ideally suited to medium level operations where it can utilize the highly accurate ARBS or Angle Rate Bombing System which employs a TV and laser dual mode tracker. Despite all this technology, the Harrier remains one of the most versatile aircraft around.

Recent deployments for the Harrier have been to Italy to support NATO and UN operations in Bosnia and Serbia as well as in the Gulf aboard Royal Navy aircraft carriers. The aircraft will be eventually replaced with the Joint Strike Fighter, the Lockheed-Martin X-35. The Harrier first saw proper operational service in the Falkland Islands conflict of 1982, and now, 20 years on, we’ll go back and look at this Harrier, one of the most technologically advanced aircraft in history.

Alpha Simulations, in association with Just Flight, produced the original Harrier Jump Jet package which was designed for use within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 and Combat Flight Simulator 1. However, this has now been reportedly updated to be both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 and Combat Flight Simulator 2 friendly.

The packaging, designed by “The Producers,” is fronted by a real-world picture of the Harrier, one of the most well-known aircraft in the world. The manual, which is 42 pages thick, contains relevant information on the installation procedure, the available missions (only in Combat Flight Simulator 2), how to fly the aircraft, and step-by-step guides around all 11 panels that accompany the 17 included aircraft. The exterior aircraft models, as can be seen from the screenshots, have not been greatly improved for FS2002, and many so-called ‘jaggies’ and pre-FS2002 texturing can be seen. The control surfaces, including the rudder, elevators, ailerons, gear and nozzles are all animated, but sadly, no rolling wheels are present. As we explained above, the aircraft is well suited to low-level night operations, but we were very disappointed to see that there is no lighting of any kind on this aircraft. To make up for the downfall on the exterior models, the included sound pack replicates the noise of the Harrier very well.

Flying the aircraft is a bit touch and go if you pardon the pun. The handling and fly-ability of the aircraft, in normal configuration for straight-and-level flight is, on the whole, good. However, once the nozzles are redirected towards vertical flight, everything starts to go downhill. In Flight Simulator 2000, this enhancement had a notable stability when switching from normal flight to vertical flight, but when the nozzles are introduced on this FS2002 version, the nose violently pitches skyward. This, in the more popular aircraft, such as the GR5 and GR7 is normally recoverable, but certainly spoils the high speed approach to the aircraft carrier. The panels, although they look very nice, and do not affect frame rates, are very limited in their functionality. Yes, the instruments required for flight, such as the altimeter and artificial horizon are fully functional, but NO, the HUD and instruments associated with the advanced weaponry, are not. One of the advantages of flying a fast jet is the HUD display, and we feel this to be a mistake leaving such a vital piece of instrumentation out.

What about the scenery areas? RAF Cottesmore, home to the Royal International Air Tattoo for the past two years, is instantly recognizable by its five green hangars. This enhancement scenery adds these hangars as well as a handful of static harriers on the apron, but sadly, little else. However, flying into the airport at night certainly surprises with an area of apron supposedly ‘floodlit.’ It is however a section of concrete textured to a brilliant white color, and does not represent a floodlit area well at all. All of the Royal Navy vessels, located near the Falkland Islands are all landable on their runways and/or helipads, BUT, the ramp, specifically designed for Harrier operations on the HMS Invincible, is non-functioning and the aircraft flies straight through it.

Another hidden secret in the package... the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton scenery. The fantastic small airport, included as an extra in this new updated version, contains many custom-designed hangars, a STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) specific runway, as well as an array of exciting static aircraft, including the Westland Seaking, various Harriers, and even a Jetstream J31 of the Royal Navy. This, combined with the animated radar, makes for a bustling, lifelike atmosphere. Unfortunately, due to the fact that this software has been reviewed running under Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002, we cannot test the campaign in the Falkland Islands that has been included, for use within the Combat Flight Sim’s.