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The
design of the Harrier began in 1957 when Sydney Camm of
Hawker Aircraft and Stanley Hooker of Bristol Siddeley Engines
designed a tactical aircraft around Bristol's new vectored thrust
turbofan. Originally known as the Hawker P.1127, the
prototype first flew in 1960. The Harrier entered service
with the RAF in 1969.
About the same time the aircraft went into service
with the RAF, the U.S. Marine Corps began acquiring Harriers,
designating them the AV-8. McDonnell Douglas built the
Harrier under license in the U.S. The British government opted
out of the cooperative agreement in 1975, leaving development of the
Harrier up to the U.S.
The Harrier saw extensive service in the Falklands
(Malvinas) Islands campaign. |
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| Specifications
(Harrier GR.Mk 3) |
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Designations |
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 | P.1127: Initial Hawker designation |
| Kestrel: Name given for UK/German/US
joint evaluation in 1964 |
| Harrier: Name given by UK |
| Sea Harrier: Royal Navy version |
| AV-8: U.S. Military designation |
| AV-8S: Spanish version (named Matador) |
| TAV-8: U.S. Military training version |
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Related
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Stuff
You Can Buy |
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Book:
Boeing/BAe Harrier
Dennis Jenkins |
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Print:
Breathe Easier
Keith Ferris |
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