Lockheed Starfighter S.2, 736 NAS, RNAS Lossiemouth 1973

[Leading Observer]

In the late 1960's The Admiralty became increasingly worried about the threat to the large carriers posed by the anti-ship missile capability of the USSR, especially those which were supersonic in theire attack run. To develop effective countermeasures, it was decided that a fairly small, extremely fast aircraft could be used to simulate these cruise missile attacks. The aircraft selected for this role was the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, and a small order for 12 aircraft was placed in 1969 with deliveries commencing in 1972. 736 NAS, having been disbanded in 1972, was reformed the following year to operate the type. Typical missions would involve a climb to altitude and then a dive down to low level and a supersonic run towards the target carrier group. These mock attacks allowed NATO to develop more effective counter-measures. Needless to say, the pilots of 736 NAS especially enjoyed running in against the US Navy Carrier groups.

The build will be pretty much OOB of the Academy F-104G

[Weaver]

That makes an awful lot of sense - presume it will have a Harley light somewhere? 

[Leading Observer]

That makes an awful lot of sense - presume it will have a Harley light somewhere? 

Excuse my ignorance - Harley Light?

[TallEng]

I think Weaver means the bright shiny type light often seen fitted at the front of the RN's Hunter GA.11's
See here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter_variants
You'll have to read down a bit, but the gen is there.
Regards
Keith

[Gondor]

I think Weaver means the bright shiny type light often seen fitted at the front of the RN's Hunter GA.11's
See here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter_variants
You'll have to read down a bit, but the gen is there.
Regards
Keith

As tall Eng said

A Harley Light is a very bright light that was fitted to the nose of Hunters operated by the Fleet Requirement and Air Direction Unit to simulate the s=flare of a rocket engine and to provide a visual target for the crews of the surface ships that the Hunters were attacking as simulated missiles.

Gondor

[Leading Observer]

Thanks guys - I will look at that

[Thorvic]

Probably best having the light on the front of a drop tank nose.

Good idea BTW 

[PR19_Kit]

What a wonderful idea, I can just imagine a 2-ship of them hammering out over the lighthouse at Lossie. 

[Weaver]

Here's a GA.11 with the Harley Light in the nose:

Hawker Hunter GA.11 Royal Navy XF368 RAF Waddington by emdjt42, on Flickr

[Weaver]

Good website with lots of info on FRADU: http://www.fradu-hunters.co.uk/

[Weaver]

Probably best having the light on the front of a drop tank nose.

Good idea BTW 

That's what I was thinking. Didn't the FRADU Sea Hawks have the light in a drop tank? I'm sure one of their types did.

[kerick]

This sounds like an interesting idea. Paint scheme like the Hunter in the pic?

[Army of One]

That scheme an tbat a/c would look so cool.........

[Captain Canada]

Cool idea. I wonder if they'll arm them up like the marineflieger ?

[Weaver]

Cool idea. I wonder if they'll arm them up like the marineflieger ?

No need to arm then for the fleet threat-simulation role, but they might well carry jamming pods. Another possibility would be a training 'missile' with no motor, warhead or control fins but a working seeker so that the ESM operators on the ships get a realistic signal.