British Aerospace (BAe) Sea Harrier FRS.1 XZ496 '27' of 800 NAS. Based at RNAS Yeovilton. First flight December 9,1980. Construction number: 41H-912020. Seen here armed with AIM-9L Sidewinders and the 30mm ADEN Cannon Pods. XZ496 served with HMS Hermes Air Group during the Falklands conflict. The aircraft was flown by Lt Cdr Mike Blissett, and destroyed an A-4C Skyhawk with an AIM-9L during its deployment. XZ496 ditched alongside HMS Illustrious following engine failure on March 16,1984, in the North Sea near Norway. The aircraft is seen finished in overall Extra Dark Sea Grey with a black radome. The white areas of the roundels were overpainted with Roundel Blue.
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