developed 1960s jump jet series aircraft operational close support reconnaissance fighter aircraft vertical short takeoff landing capabilities truly successful design arose era developed directly prototype aircraft following cancellation advanced aircraft raf ordered variants late 1960s exported united_states use marine_corps 1970s service raf positioned bulk aircraft west_germany defend potential invasion western_europe warsaw pact forces unique abilities allowed raf disperse forces away vulnerable primarily close air support operating amphibious assault ships needed forward operating bases squadrons saw deployments overseas ability operate minimal ground facilities short allowed locations unavailable fixed wing aircraft received criticism having high accident rate time consuming maintenance process 1970s british sea developed use royal_navy invincible class aircraft carriers fought war aircraft proved crucial versatile sea provided fixed wing air defence raf focused ground attack missions support advancing british land force extensively redesigned british team innovative family rolls engines thrust generated long term interest aircraft similar operational aircraft include contemporary soviet variant lockheed martin lightning development development origins design derived prior developing aircraft working replacement cancelled release defence white paper advocated policy shift away manned aircraft missiles policy resulted termination majority aircraft development projects underway british military sought quickly new project interested vertical landing aircraft need according air chief marshal sir interest stimulated presence sought ground attack fighter royal_air_force design work formally started sir later sir close cooperation airframe company bristol engine company viewed project engineer key factors allowed development continue spite technical obstacles political setbacks direct jet thrust innovative thrust engine rated pounds thrust ran september contract development prototypes signed june flight followed october prototypes built crashed including air display paris air evaluation united_kingdom united_states west_germany jointly agreed purchase aircraft developed evaluation performance potential aircraft aircraft built designated strictly evaluation aircraft save money engine fully developed intended having pounds thrust instead projected pounds numbered pilots west_germany flight took place march total sorties trials including landings end november aircraft destroyed accident transferred united_states assigned designation underwent testing remaining british based assigned trials experimentation modified use engine time development bristol undertaken considerable development work version meet north atlantic treaty organisation nato requirement issued aircraft design single engine fashion similar required use chamber burning achieve speeds won competition meet requirement strong competition aircraft manufacturers french government accept decision withdrew nato requirement cancelled shortly royal_air_force royal_navy planned develop introduce independently cancelled nato requirement ambition complicated conflicting requirements services raf wanted low level strike aircraft navy sought twin engine air defence fighter following election labour government cancelled royal_navy begun raf placed greater importance ongoing development work continued elements project equipped engine intention developing future variant decades following cancellation production following collapse development raf began considering simple upgrade existing issued ground attack jet received order pre production aircraft designated raf maiden flight august order production aircraft designated received early aircraft named small bird prey flight december officially entered service raf april received aircraft aircraft built factories kingston thames southwest london surrey underwent initial testing ski jump technique launching royal_navy aircraft carriers extensively following tests ski jumps added flight decks carriers onwards preparation new variant navy late 1960s british american governments held talks producing united_states formed partnership preparation american production congressman held cheaper produce pre existing production lines united_kingdom purchased improved versions better sensors powerful engines developed later years received design overview typically ground attack aircraft allows effectively engage aircraft short ranges powered single engine mounted fuselage engine fitted air directing thrust generated bypass flow jet exhaust small reaction fitted nose tail purpose balancing vertical flight landing gear units fuselage landing gear units near wing tip equipped wing fuselage carrying variety weapons external fuel tanks similar appearance approximately cent airframe redesigned powered powerful engine new air auxiliary blow doors added produce required low speed wing modified increase area landing gear strengthened installed wing underneath fuselage cannon gun pods fitted underside fuselage outfitted updated replace basic systems navigational attack system incorporating navigation system originally installed information presented pilot head display moving map display abilities allowed deployed small prepared normal airfields believed high intensity conflict air bases vulnerable likely quickly knocked capability squadrons dozens small alert pads lines highly prized military aircraft ability noted operation provided additional benefits operation saving fuel allowing aircraft carry ordnance don believe think millions spent america russia bit europe vertical aircraft success saw flying backwards control seen difficult fly serving decades forms criticised multiple issues particular high accident rate notes conventional single engine strike aircraft like worse accident rates los_angeles_times reported amassed highest major accident rate military plane service marines died accidents colonel declared maintenance challenge need remove wings performing work engine including engine replacements meant required considerable man hours maintenance aircraft noted maintenance difficulties order create aircraft engine jet engine developed tandem designed specifically developed earlier conventional engine core blades fan engine thrust directed engine equipped water injection increase thrust takeoff performance hot high altitude conditions normal operations system landing vertically heavy weapons load water injection function originally added following input air_force colonel worked water injection necessary order generate maximum thrust limited time typically landing especially high ambient temperatures aircraft initially powered engine replaced powerful upgrade process primary focus engine development achieving high performance little weight possible tempered funding available following entry service focus switched improving reliability extending engine life formal joint support program operated years spent million annual budget develop engine improvements variants released latest provides lbf thrust previous engine controls handling described pilots aircraft capable forward flight manner typical fixed wing aircraft stall speed manoeuvres traditional lift control surfaces useless requiring skills technical knowledge usually associated helicopters services demand great extensive training pilots experience types aircraft pilots drawn highly experienced skilled helicopter pilots addition normal flight controls controlling direction viewed senior raf officers significant design success enable control aircraft vertical flight required single added cockpit horizontal flight directed shifting forward position short vertical landings pulled point downwards control elements found conventional fixed wing aircraft thrust reaction control system thrust refers slant engine set horizontal pointing directly backwards pointing slightly forwards normally deployed reaction control achieved manipulating control stick similar action control helicopter irrelevant forward flight mode controls essential manoeuvres wind direction critical factor manoeuvres procedure vertical takeoff involves facing aircraft wind thrust set throttle brought maximum point aircraft leaves ground throttle trimmed state achieved desired altitude short takeoff procedure involves proceeding normal takeoff applying thrust runway speed normal takeoff speed usually point application knots lower takeoff speeds thrust greater reaction control system involves key points aircraft fuselage nose thrust engine temporarily control correct aircraft pitch roll vertical flight rotating thrust forward facing position normal flight called forward flight dog fighting tactic allowing sudden braking higher turn rates braking cause chasing aircraft present target chasing combat technique formally developed early 1970s differences versions largest users royal_air_force exported model aircraft operated designated broadly similar raf changes included removal components quickly sea integration american radios foe systems furthermore outer unlike raf aircraft designed delivery equipped self defence heat seeking air air missiles delivered powerful engine instead earlier seat operated training purposes body stretched taller tail fin added raf trained versions training versions navy appropriate fittings spain flew respectively raf initial fitted navigation attack suite replaced simpler aid quick turnaround missions seats replaced american aircraft raf aircraft upgraded standard featured improved sensors nose mounted laser integration electronic systems upgraded upgraded configuration programme involved installation equipment adding new navigation system aircraft substantial changes increase performance time airframe components restored replaced extend life aircraft spain designated single identical differing radios fitted royal_navy fleet air arm operated substantially modified variant intended ground attack duties unlike standard equipped radar missiles air combat duties fleet air defence fitted navigational aids carrier landings modifications reduce raised bubble canopy greater visibility aircraft later equipped use visual range anti aircraft missiles advanced radar longer range air air combat sea eagle missiles conducting anti ship missions latest variant second generation series replace generation jets service variants mainly retired taking place raf 1970s united_kingdom considered options replacing existing joining developing independent development big wing proposal increased wing area square feet allowing significant increases weapons load internal fuel reserves option cooperation chosen risky isolated approach operational history royal_air_force raf squadron equipped squadron started convert aircraft april early demonstration capabilities participation aircraft flying railway station london downtown manhattan use aerial completed journey hours minutes squadrons established raf air base air force germany squadron formed years later squadrons moved forward air base closer prospective line event outbreak european war squadrons disbanded aircraft distributed raf service close air support reconnaissance ground attack roles flexibility led long term heavy deployment west_germany conventional potential strike weapon soviet aggression rough bases expected launch attacks advancing armour columns deployed bases norway belize british colony squadron specifically norwegian operations event war operating capabilities necessary belize deployment raf combat aircraft capable safely operating airport short runway british forces stationed belize years tensions claim territory forces withdrawn years guatemala recognized independence belize war squadron operated aircraft carrier raf designed naval service aircraft rapidly modified prior departure task force special applied new deck based guidance aid devised allow land carrier easily guide aircraft carriers night time operations installed little space carriers merchant container ships modified temporary flight decks carry helicopters focused providing close air support ground forces attacking argentine positions suppressing enemy artillery high priority sea war primarily conducting fleet air defence combat air patrols threat attacking argentine fighters ground attack missions main airfield runway stanley lost replaced air patrol duties designed air defence operations quickly weapons modified air air missiles prior british forces landing detachment provided air defence phantom arrived responsibility war greatest threats deemed surface air missiles small arms fire ground total lost ground fire accidents mechanical failure sorties conducted conflict equivalent sorties day aircraft following war explored new technique operate smaller ships allowed launching landing smaller ships holding aircraft crane secondary cranes hold weapons rapid potentially saved fuel allowed operations seas system marketed foreign customers speculated applied large submarines russian typhoon class system attracted interest generation combat raf war continued serve years argentine invasion attempts flight raf deployed august june second generation saw action bosnia iraq afghanistan generation replaced improved developed jointly united_states marine_corps began showing significant interest aircraft time squadron established motivated develop aircraft encourage purchase concerns congress multiple coinciding projects close air support role marine_corps enthusiastic managed overcome efforts entered service marine_corps replacing aircraft marines attack squadrons service interested performing ship borne operations admiral promoted concept sea control ship ton light carrier equipped helicopters supplement larger aircraft carriers navy amphibious assault ship uss guam converted operated purpose studying limits possible obstacles operating vessel sea control ship concept subject periodic examinations studies light budget cuts questions use exercises performed demonstrate operating amphibious assault ships aircraft carriers including deployment aboard uss franklin roosevelt months tests showed things capable performing weather conventional carrier aircraft support naval operations devised studied methods integrate result stand system rapidly convert civilian cargo ships platforms operating maintaining handful augment number available ships deploy iowa class battleships consideration radical design battleship carrier hybrid emerged replaced ship rear turret flight deck complete hangar ski jumps operating considered need naval gunfire support greater priority additional platforms carrier operations cost delay associated elaborate conversions significant concept dropped concept deploying land based expeditionary role focused aggressive speed forward bases light maintenance facilities set hours prospective battle area forward bases containing aircraft located miles forward edge battle established permanent located miles close proximity forward bases allowed far greater sortie rate reduced fuel consumption abilities air air combat tested marine_corps conducting mock exercises trained pilots use forward flight capability opponents showed act effective air air fighters close range success operations countered aircraft judged expensive failures past marine_corps officers convinced military advantages pursued extensive development aircraft starting began upgrading configuration work focused mainly extending useful service lives improving performance remaining retired replaced designated introduced service performance service led calls united_states_air_force addition plans resulted air_force orders late 1990s slated replaced variant lockheed martin lightning modern jet aircraft like generation suffered accidents aircraft lost pilots killed 80s operators unique characteristics attracted large interest nations attempts jets unsuccessful cases american german operations aboard uss nassau war proved aircraft highly effective combat operations demonstrated carriers provided powerful presence sea expense big deck carriers following display operations small carriers navies spain later thailand bought use main carrier based fixed wing aircraft spain purchase complicated long standing political friction british spanish governments era manufactured sold spain acting tests november british pilot showed wooden deck able withstand temperature gases generated operated aircraft carrier uss aircraft provided air defence strike capabilities spanish fleet spain later purchased directly british government replace losses aggressively marketed export point company holding talks australia brazil switzerland india japan india customer purchasing point china came close operator generation following early 1970s relations west warming china interested aircraft sought armed forces british prime minister noted significant hostility ussr sales bid deal later cancelled diplomatic backlash china invaded vietnam royal_air_force retired generation spain sold seven single seat twin seat thailand delivered air wing deployed new light aircraft carrier start significant logistical problems keeping operational shortage funds spare parts equipment leaving time years delivered airframe condition thailand considered acquiring suitable maritime operations better equipped air defence replace investigation progress purchase generation retired thailand variants single seat versions raf raf ordered series production aircraft delivery december built single seat versions marine_corps ordered company designation upgrade built version designated built seat training versions raf stretched body taller tail fin built seat training versions royal_navy based seat training version powered seat training version later sold operators india indian navy spain spanish navy united kingdom royal air force royal navy united_states united_states marine_corps aircraft display canada ottawa ontario germany der leo junior poland polish aviation museum poland new_zealand new_zealand united_kingdom east fortune surrey south yorkshire cornwall raf gate guardian norfolk suffolk surrey wales hampshire imperial war museum north united_states air park arizona san diego air san_diego california county regional airport north_carolina city north_carolina oakland california air space museum arizona flying aviation museum san_diego california rhode_island pacific coast air museum california national naval aviation museum pensacola florida seattle washington sea new_york_city new_york hangar museum texas air space museum arizona philadelphia philadelphia pennsylvania united states naval museum armament technology china lake north california data jane world aircraft general characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area weight max takeoff weight powerplant lbf vertical flight jets use engine bleed air mounted nose tail performance maximum speed mph knots sea level combat radius nmi ferry range nmi endurance min combat air patrol base service ceiling time climb min armament guns cannon pods fuselage wing fuselage stations capacity provisions carry combinations rockets rocket pods rockets missiles air air missiles bombs variety iron bombs cluster bombs laser guided bombs reconnaissance pod drop tanks extended range time popular culture
Hawker Siddeley Harrier