Harrier Fuel Consumption

The amount of fuel carried by the Harrier is limited in every mission. If you run out of fuel mid-mission, your only recourse is to eject, if you have the ejection seat. Bearing this in mind, it is always best to conserve fuel as much as possible.

The Harrier consumes fuel most rapidly when hovering, including during vertical take-offs and inline turns. Also when travelling very slowly or very fast it consumes more than when travelling at an intermediate velocity. Carefully observe the fuel usage needle. This slows down and speeds up according to the rate of fuel usage.

Use the Conserve Fuel skill if you have it, when speed is not essential.

The take-off method used can effect the fuel available quite significantly. Remember to use the short take-off to conserve fuel, and fast take-offs only when you need to get to the objective area quickly.

Punctured fuel tanks obviously increase fuel usage, and these cannot be repaired mid-flight.

Auxiliary fuel tanks may be carried if you have them, and they greatly increase the range of the Harrier. They are sometimes fitted in the West Island missions, but not always, and you are free to fit them in the East Island Campaign if you have a spare pylon.

In the East Island Campaign you may re-fuel and re-arm when you land on your aircraft carrier, but fuel leaks in the onboard tank are not repaired.