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You have to define "real combat load". IIRC typically they do more of a STOL than strictly VTOL on takeoff, generally headed in to "Miller Time" the plane is lighter having expended some ordnance and fuel, so they land VTOL.
They can take off vertically of course but also obvious that they can do an STOL type takeoff at a higher weight. Usually the STOL with more fuel and ordnance is the better overall deal so that is IIRC what they generally do.
I'd define real combat load as whatever it is carrying to accomplish a combat mission, which would likely be a couple drop tanks, a targeting pod, and whatever Paveway/JDAM/etc. I know they almost always do a STOL takeoff and like I said not sure if a completely VTOL takeoff is even possible.
I'd define real combat load as whatever it is carrying to accomplish a combat mission, which would likely be a couple drop tanks, a targeting pod, and whatever Paveway/JDAM/etc. I know they almost always do a STOL takeoff and like I said not sure if a completely VTOL takeoff is even possible.
What is possible, may not be practical. The amount of fuel consumed during a vertical TO has a direct effect on on the range remaining to fly to target (and return). It doesn't do much good, if once you get the thing in the air, you don't have enough fuel left to get there and back.
What is possible, may not be practical. The amount of fuel consumed during a vertical TO has a direct effect on on the range remaining to fly to target (and return). It doesn't do much good, if once you get the thing in the air, you don't have enough fuel left to get there and back.
The way the Harrier was employed in the forward-basing scenario, there really wasn't much need for all that fuel, as the target, typically in close air support, might have been only 10 minutes away. The reduced fuel load allowed higher ordnance loads or better takeoff performance. I have known a couple Harrier drivers and they often did the FOL operations, like the A-10s in Europe in the 1970s and 1980s, from austere close-in "bases", often no more than a patch of autobahn, such as Ahlhorn (below) in northern Germany. I never landed on one, but did drive on one once.
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