Former RAF mechanic selling Harrier jump jet on eBay
by Steven Mostyn - Feb 4 2011, 11:35
We're tempted, but it wouldn't fit in the office. Image: Chris Wilson/eBay
Do you have a spacious driveway or garden, some serious money burning a hole in your pocket, and enjoy being the envy of your friends? If so, take a moment to consider a highly unusual eBay UK auction that’s presently grabbing headlines left, right and centre.
Specifically, if you’ve the prerequisite space, cash and ego, 33-year-old Chris Wilson of Bradford, West Yorkshire, is willing to pass along his authentic Harrier fighter jet through eBay for a whopping 70,000 GBP (approx. $113,000 USD). Woof!
Although the Harrier’s original Rolls Royce engine has been removed, Mr. Wilson—a former mechanic with the Royal Air Force (RAF)—has said it would certainly be possible to restore the iconic vertical-takeoff-and-landing jet to a state of airworthiness.
In terms of the jet’s contributing features, it’s one of the last first-gen Harriers, comes with seats for both pilot and navigator, boasts cannon and missile pods, and even carries a glowing history that saw it serve during the Falklands War and also in Afghanistan.
Before swinging a sledgehammer at the piggybank cowering in the corner, consider that the Harrier in question was decommissioned in 1997, weighs in at three tonnes, is some 60 feet in length, and has a wingspan of 26 feet.
That being said, if you have a spare engine, a dusty stockpile of Sidewinder missiles, a 30mm Aden cannon, and a couple of 1,000lb bombs laying around the house… all your dreams have just come true.
Comment on this Story