Following its development in the 1960s, the British-designed Harrier revolutionized aviation when it became the sole successful STOVL military jet
The iconic Harrier GR.1 short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) jet aircraft, also known as the “Jump Jet,” made its inaugural flight on December 28, 1967, 50 years ago.
The British-designed Harrier, still in use as the AV-8B with the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Italian, and Spanish Navies, revolutionized aviation when it emerged as the lone successful STOVL military jet after its development in the 1960s.
The RAF No. 1 Squadron at Wittering was the first RAF squadron to acquire a Harrier GR.1, and their acquisition of the aircraft in April 1969 marked the start of more than four decades of RAF service.
When two aircraft competed in the Daily Mail Transatlantic Air Race in May 1969, they flew (using aerial refueling) from London’s St. Pancras Railway Station to Downtown Manhattan in the United States. The Harrier finished the flight in just 6 hours and 11 minutes.
The aircraft would later go on to serve with the United Kingdom and several militaries all over the world, and in its final configuration, the Sea Harrier was a carrier-based aircraft.
While in RAF service, Harrier was strategically placed, with the majority of the fleet based in West Germany, to protect against a hypothetical Warsaw Pact invasion of Western Europe.
The RAF was able to distribute forces away from risky airbases because of the Harrier’s special capabilities, frequently hiding in woodland areas while engaged in training or actual deployment. The aircraft’s ability to operate with little in the way of ground support and very short runways allowed it to be used in places where conventional fixed-wing military aircraft couldn’t, giving battle planning a completely new perspective. Harrier Squadrons underwent several overseas deployments.
The legacy of the Harrier, a real testament to the engineering prowess and innovation of the British, continues through informing the technology employed in the F-35 Lightning II STOVL variant today.
Photo by BAE Systems Air and TSgt Jose Lopez Jr / U.S. Air Force
Source: BAE Systems Air
