Researched 2026-10-11 from the sources listed below. Airframes move between hangars, workshops and loans: check with South Wales Aviation Museum before travelling to see this one.
The airframe in brief
| Serial / registration | XZ969 |
|---|---|
| Type | Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3 |
| First flew | 13 November 1980 |
| Delivered | 15 December 1980 |
| Units / operator | No. 4 Squadron, RAF Gütersloh (code 'D') |
| Ground instruction | RNEC Manadon as A2612 (1991); RN School of Flight Deck Operations, Culdrose, as 'DD69' (1995) |
| Fire training | Predannack, from 2003 |
| Arrived | July 2022 |
| Status | In store |
| Where | South Wales Aviation Museum, Barry |
The story of XZ969
XZ969 first flew on 13 November 1980 and was delivered to the RAF on 15 December 1980. It served with No. 4 Squadron at RAF Gütersloh in West Germany, where it was photographed wearing the squadron code 'D'.
Its flying career ended at the start of the 1990s. On 24 April 1991 it went to the Royal Naval Engineering College at Manadon, Plymouth, as instructional airframe A2612. On 17 May 1995 it moved to the Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations at RNAS Culdrose. There it wore the code 'DD69' and was used to train naval aircraft handlers on the ground.
In 2003 it passed to the fire school at Predannack, Culdrose's satellite airfield on the Lizard. It was still there in July 2008, parked beside XV753, another GR.3 retired from the deck school. In July 2022 it was moved to the South Wales Aviation Museum at St Athan, where it is recorded as stored outside. It still carries its Culdrose code, DD69.
Seeing XZ969 today
Recorded in 2025-26 as stored outside at the St Athan site, still carrying its Culdrose deck-school code DD69. Ask staff whether it is visible on the day.
| Museum | Adult entry | Airframes | Headline exhibit |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Wales Aviation MuseumBarry, Vale of Glamorgan | £10 | 73 | The resident Harrier and a growing VC10/Tornado-era collection, most with steps and open canopies. Kids exit wearing thousand-yard grins. |
Also known as: XZ969/D · DD69 · A2612 · Harrier GR3 XZ969