Art
Nalls’s team aimed for six air shows in 2009 with XZ439 and completed
all of them successfully with no major mechanical problems. An
additional display pilot was declared qualified by the FAA, Joe
Anderson - Major General, USMC (ret), a test pilot who already had
2,490+ hours in Harriers dating back to 1973. Joe is 63 which probably
makes him the oldest currently-flying Harrier pilot in the world.
During the year Art received a low-altitude aerobatic waiver in the Sea
Harrier, the first ever granted in the United States, which allows
manoeuvres beyond 90 degrees angle of bank. Art summed up his Sea
Harrier as follows: “All the old AV-8A Pilots out there remember what a
kick in the pants the Harrier was to fly, and this one is lighter,
faster, stronger and easier to fly than any of those. It’s a rocket
ship! It’s an absolute pleasure to fly!”
New RN Carriers News
Hull modules for HMS Queen Elizabeth are taking shape at ship yards
across the country under the control of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance
(BAES, BVT, Thales, Babcock and the MoD). The bow is nearing
completion at Appledore, lower Blocks 1 and 2 are in progress on the
Tyne, with Block 3 under way at Govan where Block 4 will be started in
the new year. Construction of the rudders, stabilisers and sponsons is
well under way and the lifts and diesel generator have been completed.
Modules for the second ship, HMS Prince of Wales, will be built
following on from HMS Queen Elizabeth. However, with the parlous state
of the country’s finances following Gordon Brown’s “prudent” management
of the economy over the past decade, cancellation of at least one of
the ships must remain a possibility.
Updated on 22Feb2010