Hawker Siddeley Harrier variant
Hawker Siddeley Harrier TAV-8S Matador
The export version of the TAV-8A two-seat trainer for the Spanish Navy, designated VAE.1 Matador. It accompanied the single-seat AV-8S aircraft in 008 Escuadrilla and in operations from the carrier Dédalo. When the Matadors were replaced by Harrier IIs, two two-seaters were sold to the Royal Thai Navy alongside seven single-seaters, under the Thai designation B.KhL.1A.
History
The Matador two-seater
Spain bought the Harrier with the United States acting as intermediary, so its conversion trainer took the export designation TAV-8S, corresponding to the Marine Corps TAV-8A, with the Spanish designation VAE.1 Matador. As with the single-seaters, differences from the American aircraft came down essentially to the radios.
Spanish service
The TAV-8S served with 008 Escuadrilla alongside the AV-8S and was the tool that converted Spanish pilots to V/STOL flying, first ashore and then in operations from the carrier Dédalo, Spain's first fixed-wing shipborne platform of the jet age.
Sale to Thailand
Replaced by Harrier IIs, the Spanish Matadors found a buyer in Thailand: in 1998 seven single-seaters and two two-seaters were sold to the Royal Thai Navy, which designated the trainers B.KhL.1A and folded them into the air wing of the light carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet. Chronic shortages of spares limited their activity and the type was retired in 2006.