Researched 2026-10-11 from the sources listed below. Airframes move between hangars, workshops and loans: check with Fleet Air Arm Museum before travelling to see this one.
The airframe in brief
| Serial / registration | XZ493 |
|---|---|
| Type | British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS.1 |
| Built | 1980 (c/n 41H/912017) |
| Units / operator | 801 NAS, HMS Invincible (1982); 800 NAS (1994) |
| Lost | 15 December 1994, ditched in the Adriatic beside HMS Invincible; pilot ejected |
| Recovered | From about 720 m depth |
| Rebuilt | BAe Dunsfold, 1995-2000 |
| Arrived | 22 March 2000; displayed from 2000 |
| Status | On display |
| Where | Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovil |
The story of XZ493
XZ493 is a Sea Harrier FRS.1, construction number 41H/912017, built in 1980. In 1982 it was one of the Sea Harriers of 801 Naval Air Squadron that sailed south in HMS Invincible. It flew from the carrier throughout the Falklands conflict, repainted in the overall dark grey adopted for the campaign.
On 15 December 1994, flying with 800 Naval Air Squadron, it was lost in the Adriatic off Bosnia. The pilot, Lt D. Kistruck, was in the hover alongside Invincible when the aircraft lost yaw control. He ejected safely. The wreck was later recovered from about 720 metres of water.
Saltwater damage ruled out any return to flying. The remains reached Yeovilton from the accident investigation unit at Lee-on-Solent on 1 March 1995. In September 1995 they were passed to the museum, and the next month went to British Aerospace at Dunsfold to be rebuilt for display. Enthusiast accounts suggest parts of other Harriers were used. It returned by road on 22 March 2000.
The museum put it on show in 2000. It now forms part of the Falklands display, one of five aircraft from the 1982 campaign shown together.
Seeing XZ493 today
XZ493 is in Hall 4 as part of the Falklands display, perched on a replica of Invincible's ski-jump ramp and coded 001/N.
| Museum | Adult entry | Airframes | Headline exhibit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleet Air Arm MuseumYeovil, Somerset | £21 | 97 | Concorde 002 (G-BSST), the first British-assembled Concorde, which made her maiden flight from Filton in 1969 and now headlines a hall of… |
Also known as: Sea Harrier XZ493 · Falklands Sea Harrier · N-001 · Shar XZ493