BAe Harrier GR7 – 1 Sqn RAF, Bardufoss AB, Norway, Exercise Snow Falcon 2004

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA2628: BAe Harrier GR7 ZG531 of 1 Squadron Royal Air Force, Bardufoss AB, Norway, Exercise Snow Falcon 2004. Production run of 1,000 models.

Length 7.75 inches Wingspan 5 inches

The Harrier GR7 made its maiden flight in 1990. In 2004 seven Harriers from 1 Squadron and 4 Squadron were given a temporary arctic white and grey winter camouflage paint scheme so they could participate in “Exercise Snow Falcon” beginning on January 23 and taking place at Bardufoss, Norway. One of the aircraft from 1 Squadron was ZG531, built in 1991 C/N P85. This aircraft was in service until 2010 and eventually made its way to the bone yard at Davis-Monthan AFB in 2018.

Designed to meet a NATO specification for a light tactical support fighter that was also capable of Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL), the Harrier first flew in 1960. This unique aircraft has the distinction of being the only successful V/STOL design out of the many that were put forth during the 1960s. There are four different versions of the Harrier, which uses thrust vectoring to achieve V/STOL: the first generation Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the Naval strike/air defense BAE Sea Harrier, the US AV-8B Harrier II variant and the British BAE Harrier II. The Harrier was produced between 1969 and 2003.