You don’t need to be worrying about Nalls.
Don’t worry about me and the Harrier. This ain’t my first rodeo, but I appreciate your concern. We’ve thought about this for quite some time, before taking the economic plunge and “investing” in a Harrier. I do intend to make money with this machine so “invest” is the correct word here.
I flew the “A” in VMA-231, right next door to VMA-542 and have about 900 hours in them, with over 400 carrier landings. I also spent a tour at Pax River flying the “new” AV-8B as one of the first few pilots to do so and wrote as much of the NATOPS for that version as anyone. I have about 500 hours in the AV-8B. I did much of the high angle of attack work, the shipboard work, the takeoff and landing assymetric work, the engine-out work, handling qualities and weapons separation work, and the TAV-8B work. I have over 6 hours of flight time in single engine jets without the engine running, which is very difficult to get, as you might imagine. Still, I agree with your comments concerning the A-4. I love that airplane, too! I also flew the A-4 at Pax and have engine out time in it as well. One of my favorite flights was in an A-4 doing a dogfight against a helo. I was kicking his butt royally since he couldn’t see a gray 36’ wide airplane when I pointed directly at him. I was loving it! All of a sudden, I had a generator failure in the A-4 and had to pull the RAT and terminate the flight. I was very dissappointed. I had to leave and go home early and take a trap. Another disadvantage of the A-4 over the Harrier. Where are you going to take a trap in the civilian world?
The A-4 is another of my favorites, but I prefer the Harrier for a couple of reasons: I can land the Harrier in my back yard, the A-4 takes at least 4-6,000 feet, if you’re good. The Harrier has it’s own starter. The single-seat A-4 has a self-starter, but the 2-seater needs a huffer. I always wanted an A-4 until I flew the L-39. I can’t go as fast as the A-4, but the L-39 doesn’t need a huffer, NEVER breaks, and uses 1/3 the fuel of the A-4. I love that airplane as well, and I can land it in 1,800 feet. There’s an emergency field every 12 miles up and down the east coast. It’s a jet that’s nearly perfect for the civilian world.
I hope this answers your questions about the Harrier and satisfies some of your concerns. I promise I won’t do anything stupid in the airplane. I have absolutely no intention of dying before before I have finished living.
Art Nalls