Subject: Re: Article submission for ARC
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Andy Lee" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:42:10 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Andy Lee 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2011 5:41 AM
  Subject: Article submission for ARC

  "Hasegawa 1/48 Harrier GR7" 

  by "Andy Alexius Lee"
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  Long overdue submission of another of my 'what-if' builds. This is Hasegawa's Harrier GR7 done up in a retro commemorative scheme from 805 Sqn, Royal Australian Navy, during the squadron's last combat deployment in Afghanistan before disbanding. Inspiration came from Christopher Cooper's excellent profiles in the 'What-if' thread on the Jet forum. 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg
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  Bit of background 'story'. When the Labor govt took over, it was decided to acquire a new 'jump-jet' carrier to replace HMAS Melbourne but as the Invincible was no longer for sale after the Falklands, a deal was struck with the UK whereby a set of construction plans would be sold to Australia to build a new carrier herself with the condition that the new air wing would fly British built Harrier GR5s, instead of the AV-8Bs preferred by the RAN. HMAS Melbourne would undergo a refit to enable her to serve till 1985 while the new HMAS Australia/ GR5s would enter service in 1989. 

  The 3 year gap was deemed acceptable by Labor and VF-805 pilots earmarked for Harriers would maintain currency by flying with the RAF/RN, as well as the USMC in the meantime. A total of 12 GR5s were ordered including 2 twin tub trainers, allowing an 8 plane ship detachment while still permitting shore operations. Harrier conversion for new pilots would all be done in the UK after completion of basic/ advanced pilot training in Australia.

  In the event HMAS Australia was commissioned in Oct 1989 but due to delays in the GR5 program and subsequent change to the GR7 mark by the RAF, RAN Harriers were also switched to the GR7 variant while on the production line, resulting in a delay in arrival till Feb 1992.

  Fast forward to the present day. When Julia Gillard's Labor govt came to power in 2010, she announced a series of defence cuts as part of her plans to turn around the economy and reduce spending. Part of the cut was that HMAS Melbourne would be decommissioned immediately and 805 Sqn disbanded by 2011. The UK immediately offered to take the decommissioned Melbourne as a floating RN museum as well as the GR7s for spares in return for a token sum! Fortunately for 805 Sqn, there was a slight reprieve for Gillard had promised to bring home Aussie ground troops from Iraq/Afghanistan as part of her election promise. Hence the Harriers would fly out their last deployment in Afghanistan in support of ISAF in return for Australia pulling out her ground forces. In Oct 2010 HMAS Melbourne sailed on her last voyage to Portsmouth with all of 805 Sqn GR7s onboard. En-route, as she neared the Egyptian end of the Suez, all 10 GR7s launched off her deck for the last time, bound for Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. 

          

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  In Jan 2011, with 6 months left in the Sqn's tour, it was decided that the squadron would go out with a bang. All the squadron's Harriers, including 882 seen her, were painted up in a retro scheme reminiscent of the Skyhawks flown by 805 Sqn with help from neighbouring RAF and US squadrons. When asked by a BBC news crew what would happen if Canberra found out about the unauthorised paint job, Lt Cmdr Nick Mahoney's priceless answer was ' What are they gonna do? Send me to Afghanistan??' 

  "Andy Alexius Lee"

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg
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  Photos and text © by "Andy Alexius Lee"