14 minutes of fuel = 2200lb which iirc, was about the max the Gr7 was rated to hover at, with no stores. so add on stores. lowers that further.
So being below 14 minutes of fuel when you try to land on a carrier and you should be golden. Especially if you are heading towards the carrier at or around that fuel amount, let alone for when you are actually at the carrier
Harrier: How to be a fighter pilot by Paul Tremelling
Hell in a Harrier 1 you can just out rate it lol. with a little vertical and you will be on its tail before it can get the nose down to gain energy.
Still the Harrier 2 is limited to 18 degrees AOA when IRL it can do like 30 comfortably.
(meaning its one of the only jets in game that could take on a typhoon in a guns fight and win if they added that :))
It will turn inside it at a similar rate with just 18 degrees AOA.