Aircraft carrier HMS Invincible has claimed a record Harrier launch sequence for a ship of her class.

Following the successful NATO Exercise Northern Light in the autumn, Invincible continued her work-up period by embarking eight GR7 Harriers of 3(F) Squadron RAF – 18 pilots and 112 additional personnel joining the ship with the aircraft.

Also on board were nine FA2 Sea Harriers of both 800 and 801 Naval Air Squadrons, adding to the organisational challenge – not least in how to arrange 17 Harriers on the flight deck and in the hangar.

Many of the RAF squadron members had taken part in live operations in the Middle East earlier in 2003, but few had experience of maritime operations.

One of the most demanding aspects of the embarkation proved to be the engineering support. Although the GR7 and FA2 were originally based on a common design, and share the same engine, they have very different engineering procedures, tools and components.

This was complicated further by the confined workspace in the ship, and the motion of the ship at sea which was not to everyone’s liking.

Having both front-line Joint Force Harrier squadrons on board at the same time allowed all parties a greater understanding of each other’s procedures, and allowed the rehearsal of ‘composite air operations’ (COMAO) packages – tactical missions simulating GR7 bomb and missile strikes against land targets, with air defence provided by escorting FA2s.

Invincible at one point put seven RAF Harriers and nine Sea Harriers into the air in the space of 13 minutes, believed to be a record for the class of carrier. All but two of the jets were returning to their respective home bases after the intensive three-week operational period.

Invincible has also hosted five upgraded GR7A Harriers, training as part of the GR9 programme which will see the demise of the FA Sea Harrier.

The ‘new’ aircraft — which feature a more powerful Pegasus Mk 107 engine — are the first of a batch of 20 to undergo conversion by Rolls Royce, BAE Systems and QinetiQ.

The Pegasus engine delivers 3,000lb more thrust than the Mk 105 which it replaces, improving the aircraft’s hot-weather performance and allowing it to operate worldwide from Royal Navy aircraft carriers in all weathers.

The GR7A upgrade is due to be completed by April 2004.