Summery :
The British Aerospace GR.7 Harrier is an upgraded model of RAF's GR.5, the first model of the Harrier, the vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) jet aircraft.
This GR.7 (ZG856) was belonged to No.3(F) Sqn, RAF Laarbruch.
On January 29th 1999, it was part of a six-aircraft Harrier formation taking part in Exercise RED FLAG. It had completed a target run and live weapons delivery and was leaving the simulated hostile airspace at the end of the attack mission. Whilst in a tactical formation with three other Harriers, an opposing aircraft's radar tageted ZG856, and the pilot maneuvered the aircraft towards the nearby hill to avoid attack. To regain his position within the hill, rolled the aircraft left and increased the g-force which reached a peak of 5.8G to maneuver the aircraft back down to low level. During this maneuver the pilot became aware of his close proximity to the ground, and attempted to roll the aircraft upright, but perceived no reaction to his roll control inputs.
The aircraft had undergone minor pre-flight enginnering work on the evening before which involved selecting the Q-Feel system to "off" which normally remains selected to "on". The Q-Feel system increases the force required to move the aircraft's control column under certain conditions.
However, he quickly concluded that recovery was impossible, and immediately ejected from the aircraft, sustaining major injuries. The aircraft impacted the ground 2.5 seconds later, and was destroyed.
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