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The Harrier is one of the most extraordinary and recognizable fighter aircraft in the world. A single-seat light fighter with vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) capabilities, it can support troops on the ground and intercept and attack enemy aircraft over the battlefield. It has flown with the British Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, the Spanish and Italian navies, the United States Marine Corps, and other armed forces around the globe.
Developed by Hawker Siddeley from the prototype P.1127 and Kestrel test aircraft, the initial production Harrier first flew in 1966. The USMC version, called the AV-8A, made its debut in 1971. Later, a significantly revised version was developed and manufactured by McDonnell-Douglas as the AV-8B. The naval "Sea Harrier" famously shouldered air combat duties for the Royal Navy in the Falkland Islands conflict of 1982.
The Harrier accomplishes vertical flight by directing thrust from the engine through four swiveling nozzles located on the fighter's belly. Sometimes called a "jump jet," the Harrier can operate from short fields, ship decks, or even roadways located close to the fighting.
The Museum's Harrier first flew in 1973 and was delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps as an AV-8A in 1974. It was later modified to the AV-8C standard, with improvements for equipment updates and extended operational life. It served with Marine Attack Squadron 542 (VMA-542) before it was retired in 1986. The Harrier was stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona until 2000, when it was transferred to the Pima Air and Space Museum. In 2002, it was delivered to The Museum of Flight, where it underwent restoration and repainting.
This aircraft loan is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.
The Harrier is one of the most extraordinary and recognizable fighter aircraft in the world. A single-seat light fighter with vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) capabilities, it can support troops on the ground and intercept and attack enemy aircraft over the battlefield. It has flown with the British Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, the Spanish and Italian navies, the United States Marine Corps, and other armed forces around the globe.
Developed by Hawker Siddeley from the prototype P.1127 and Kestrel test aircraft, the initial production Harrier first flew in 1966. The USMC version, called the AV-8A, made its debut in 1971. Later, a significantly revised version was developed and manufactured by McDonnell-Douglas as the AV-8B. The naval "Sea Harrier" famously shouldered air combat duties for the Royal Navy in the Falkland Islands conflict of 1982.
The Harrier accomplishes vertical flight by directing thrust from the engine through four swiveling nozzles located on the fighter's belly. Sometimes called a "jump jet," the Harrier can operate from short fields, ship decks, or even roadways located close to the fighting.
The Museum's Harrier first flew in 1973 and was delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps as an AV-8A in 1974. It was later modified to the AV-8C standard, with improvements for equipment updates and extended operational life. It served with Marine Attack Squadron 542 (VMA-542) before it was retired in 1986. The Harrier was stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona until 2000, when it was transferred to the Pima Air and Space Museum. In 2002, it was delivered to The Museum of Flight, where it underwent restoration and repainting.
This aircraft loan is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.
