• January 19, 1981 P. 89
• January 19, 1981 P. 89
• January 19, 1981 P. 89
• January 19, 1981 P. 89
• DECEMBER 30, 2002 P. 132 Commissioned on July 11, 1980, the HMS Invincible was the first of its type and the first to see front-line action during the Falkland Islands conflict in 1982. Sea Harriers and Sea Kings operated from her decks, ensuring air supremacy throughout this short war.
• February 25, 1985 P. 127 General Dynamics Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) is operational on British Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and her sister ships, HMS Invincible and Ark Royal. Carriers have two Phalanx firing units installed on bow and stern (arrows). Immediately adjacent to the forward Phalanx installation is a twin launcher for British Aerospace Dynamics Sea Dart missiles. The ship also carries four launchers for Short Brothers Seacat missiles. The normal complement of aircraft is five British Aerospace Sea Harrier fighters and nine Westland/Sikorsky Sea King antisubmarine helicopters. Phalanx units were added after the 1982 Falklands war, because carriers were found to be vulnerable to sea-skimming missiles.
• DECEMBER 30, 2002 P. 132 "Coast is clear” Mark Brewster Mark Brewster, 37, a languages graduate from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, began his career as an international flight attendant in 1992 and developed an interest in aviation art shortly thereafter. His artwork now includes naval aviation as this rendition of the HMS Invincible at work indicates. Brewster also qualified as a commercial pilot in 1993, which gives him “hands-on” knowledge.
• APRIL 29, 1985 P. 201 British Aerospace Sea Harrier fighter from 801 Naval Air Squadron based on the carrier HMS Invincible intercepts a Soviet air force Ilyushin II-20 Coot-A electronic intelligence gathering aircraft that was shadowing North Atlantic Treaty Organization naval forces taking part in Exercise Cold Winter near Norway. The II-20 carries an underfuselage container pod believed to contain side-looking radar. Fairings on the side of the fuselage forward of the wing are believed to house cameras and other sensors. Note extended radome in nose.
• January 19, 1981 P. 1 First Sea Harrier launch from ski-jump deck Royal Navy/British Aerospace Sea Harrier fighter is launched from the ski-jump bow of HMS Invincible, the first of three antisubmarine aircraft carriers to enter service with the British navy. The aircraft, the first launched from the ship, was piloted by Lt. Cdr. David Poole. More than 70 launch and recovery cycles—including some at night—were performed in qualifying the aircraft to a maximum takeoff weight of 23,500 lb. (See page 91.) British Aerospace photograph by Michael Connelly.q

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