Harrier - Steve Stone - Bog

The Harrier has a unique place in aviation history as the most successful VTOL aircraft to date. Born from the need during the Cold War for an aircraft that could operate even if airfields had been destroyed. The Harrier has become yet another British aviation icon alongside the Spitfire and Concord. Under a small but outstanding team under designer Sir Sydney Camm designer of Hawker Hurricane fame along with Sir Stanley Hooker Bristol's Technical Director led to the P.1127 forerunner to the Harrier. Such was its success that it was also built under licence in America by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) and the Americans along with the British aided in improving it for both later American (AV-8B) and British (GR5, GR7, GR9) versions. The Harrier has fought in several theatres including the Falklands, former Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Roving its value time and time again as a formidable fighter bomber.