Without a doubt the first generation Harriers underperform. I do realize I sound like a broken record but I just want them to fix this iconic aircraft I really am no different to the F-16 boys or the SU27 kids.
Link to bug report:
Sea, Gr, and AV-8 Harriers Induced drag too high // Gaijin.net // Issues
In game they do have near identical G pull and turn rates at given speeds and AOA just like they should, but they are sustaining on average 2 G less in any given sustained turn then what NASA documents as well as what the Royal Aircraft Establishment Technical Report 77021 state.
I believe that in game the only thing they need changed is the induced wing drag across the AOA range. In doing so the turn rate chart and max G chart will remain accurate with the harrier and the sustained G chart will increase to what its IRL values are. Inversely this also can mean the engine needs to make more thrust as airspeed increases.
Examples and tests:
(All tests I trialed in game are with a spaded Gr.3 Harrier with only gun pods and 30 mins internal fuel.)
(Technical Report 77021 features a Gr.3 with 2x100 gallon drop tanks on the inboard pylons and 2xaim9G on the outer; this gives the real aircraft a significant amount more drag at any Alpha. Standard weight of 15500LBS and a gross thrust at sea level of 95.5% Nf/Radical of 0 (rotational engine power). There is a chart with thrust output at different Mach values with .7 Mach being 27018Lbs/thrust)
First test from Report 77021:
Normal acceleration versus longitudinal acceleration at .7 Mach nozzles aft
Az/g= 6.25 at 10 degrees AOA while still accelerating and 6.5G at a value near 11 degrees AOA while maintaining 0 Ax/g acceleration longitudinally (maintaining forward airspeed)
In game test at .7 Mach below 300 Meters altitude 95% throttle or over 100% rotational speed:
Unable to maintain speed at 10 AOA.
4.8G sustained at 9 degrees AOA at .7 +/- .01 Mach
Test 2 TR 77021:
No flaps .85 Mach nozzles aft
Sustaining speed at 7.5 degrees AOA at 8.75 G
In game:
Maintaining speed at 6.5 degrees AOA 5.2G
Conclusions:
According to the NAVAIR AV-8A flight manual for the Marines the Harrier could sustain just over 15 degrees a second at 466 knots (.7 Mach) and 6.5 G with a weight of 17,090 lbs and a turn radius very near 3000 feet.
Last test was at .95 Mach and the Gr.3 in game cannot even reach this clean. The IRL aircraft was sustaining 5.25G at around 4 degrees AOA.
Documents: (Declassified)
