Harrier jump jet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harrier jump jet
A Harrier II in hover with downward jet exhaust
Role	V/STOL strike aircraft
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Hawker Siddeley British Aerospace / McDonnell Douglas Boeing / BAE Systems
First flight	28 December 1967
Introduction	1969
Primary users	United States Marine Corps Royal Air Force (retired) Spanish Navy Italian Navy
Produced	1967–2003
Developed from	Hawker Siddeley P.1127
Variants	Hawker Siddeley Harrier British Aerospace Sea Harrier McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II British Aerospace Harrier II

The Harrier, also known as the Harrier jump jet, is a special kind of jet aircraft. It can take off and land straight up or in a very short distance. This is called V/STOL, which stands for Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing. The Harrier was first made in the 1960s by a British company called Hawker Siddeley.

The Harrier was the only successful V/STOL plane from that time. It was designed to fly from simple places like parking lots or clearings in a forest. This meant it didn't need big, easy-to-attack air bases. Later, it was changed to be used on aircraft carriers, which are like floating airfields.

There are two main types and four different models of the Harrier. Both UK and US companies helped build them:

The first Harrier was the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. It was used by air forces like the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the UK and the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The Sea Harrier was a special version made for navies. It could fly from ships and was used by the Royal Navy and the Indian Navy.

In the 1980s, a newer Harrier was made. It was called the AV-8B in the US and the British Aerospace Harrier II in the UK. Most of the older Harriers were replaced by these newer ones. Now, many countries are planning to replace their Harriers with the F-35 Lightning II, which is another jet that can take off and land in a short distance.

How the Harrier Was Made

Early Ideas for VTOL Planes

In the 1950s, after the Korean War, many aircraft companies started looking into planes that could take off and land straight up. This is called VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing). The idea was to avoid needing long runways, which could be easily attacked. People also thought this technology could be used for passenger planes.

Underside view of the first prototype P.1127. The rotating jet nozzles were a key design element of its VTOL capability

In 1957, a British engine company, Bristol Engine Company, created a new engine. It could direct its thrust (the force that pushes the plane) in different directions. This engine was called the Pegasus. It had special nozzles on the sides that could turn. This idea came from a French aviation expert, Michel Wibault.

A designer at Hawker Aircraft, Ralph Hooper, quickly started drawing a plane that could use this Pegasus engine. In 1959, the company, now called Hawker Siddeley, decided to build two test planes. These planes were called the P.1127.

The P.1127 caught the attention of the RAF. This led to the RAF asking for a V/STOL plane for ground attacks. In 1965, the RAF ordered six test planes, called the P.1127 (RAF).

Developing the Harrier Jet

Hawker Siddeley XV-6A Kestrel in later USAF markings

While the RAF was interested, NATO (a group of countries working together) also wanted a VTOL plane. They wanted a plane that could fly very fast, like the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Hawker tried to make a faster, supersonic version of the P.1127, called the P.1154. However, this project was later cancelled in 1965 because it was too expensive.

Even with the P.1154 project cancelled, work continued on the slower P.1127 test planes. Nine of these planes, called the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel, were built for testing. In 1964, these planes started flying. Pilots from Britain, the US, and Germany tested them to see how VTOL planes could be used. After these tests, the RAF decided to order a changed version of the P.1127/Kestrel. This new plane was named the Harrier GR.1.

First Harrier Planes

Hawker Siddeley Harrier, in Spanish service

British Aerospace Sea Harrier, in Royal Navy service

The Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1/GR.3 and the AV-8A Harrier were the first Harriers. They were the first planes that could take off and land vertically or in a short distance, and were used for close-up attacks and looking for information. These planes were made directly from the P.1127 and Kestrel test planes.

The Harrier GR.1 officially started service with the RAF in April 1969. The United States Marine Corps (USMC) also bought Harriers, getting 102 AV-8A and 8 TAV-8A Harriers between 1971 and 1976.

The British Aerospace Sea Harrier was a naval version of the Harrier. It was used by the Royal Navy starting in April 1980. Sea Harriers were very important in the Falklands War in 1982. They flew from aircraft carriers like HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes. After the war, an improved model, the Sea Harrier FA2, was made and started service in 1993. The Indian Navy also used Sea Harriers.

Second Generation Harriers

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, in United States Marine Corps service

British Aerospace Harrier II, in Royal Air Force service

In 1973, Hawker Siddeley and an American company, McDonnell Douglas, started working together. They wanted to make a better Harrier. They improved the Pegasus engine. In 1981, British Aerospace (BAe) joined the project. The Harrier was greatly changed, leading to the second generation of these special jets. The American version was called the AV-8B Harrier II.

The first AV-8B was given to the USMC in December 1983. The AV-8B is mainly used for attacks or many different tasks. It often flies from small aircraft carriers. The RAF also bought the second generation Harrier, called the Harrier II GR5/GR7/GR9. It started service in the mid-1980s. Other NATO countries, like Spain and Italy, also used this model.

The British Harrier II was used by the RAF and later the Royal Navy until 2010. Production of new Harriers stopped in 1997. The last rebuilt Harrier was delivered in 2003.

How the Harrier Flies

Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine on display, sections have been cut out to provide an internal view

Locations of the four nozzles at the sides of the Pegasus engine.

The Harrier jump jet can take off vertically, but only when it's not carrying its maximum weight. Most of the time, it needs a short take off to carry enough fuel and weapons. This uses forward speed to help the jet lift off. A short takeoff also saves fuel compared to a vertical take off. On some aircraft carriers, a ski-jump ramp helps the plane get into the air.

Landings are usually done with some forward speed, but not like a normal plane. This is called a shipborne rolling vertical landing (SRVL). The Harrier can also turn its nozzles slightly forward during flight. This is called "VIFFing" (vectoring in forward flight). It's a dog-fighting trick that lets the plane slow down very quickly or turn faster. This could make a plane chasing the Harrier fly past it, making the Harrier the hunter.

Wind direction is very important when the Harrier takes off or lands vertically. If the wind doesn't blow straight into the engine, it can push the nose sideways. The pilot has a wind vane to help keep the plane pointed into the wind. For a vertical takeoff, the plane faces the wind. The turning nozzles point straight down, and the pilot pushes the throttle to full power. The plane then lifts off the ground.

For a short takeoff, the plane starts like a normal takeoff. Then, at a certain speed, the pilot turns the nozzles partly downwards. This gives extra lift from the jet. The Harrier also has small thrusters at its nose, tail, and wingtips. These thrusters use air from the engine to control the plane's movement when it's flying slowly or hovering. This is before the normal flight controls (like elevators and ailerons) work well.

Pilots have said the Harrier is "unforgiving" to fly. It can fly forward like a normal plane and also hover. Changing between hovering and normal flight needs a lot of skill and focus from the pilot. Pilots learning to fly the Harrier often had experience with helicopters first. This helped them with hovering and vertical flight.

What Replaced the Harrier?

In 2010, the RAF and Royal Navy announced they would stop using their Harriers by 2011. In December 2010, the RAF's Harrier GR9s flew their last missions. In 2011, the remaining 72 Harriers were sold to the US Marine Corps. They use these planes for spare parts to keep their own Harriers flying.

As of 2015, the F-35 Lightning II (specifically the F-35B model) is set to replace the AV-8B Harrier II for the US Marine Corps. The RAF and Royal Navy also plan to use the F-35B starting in 2016.

The Italian Navy is replacing its AV-8Bs with F-35Bs on their aircraft carrier, Cavour. In 2016, the Indian Navy stopped using its Sea Harriers. They now use the Mikoyan MiG-29K, which is a different type of jet. Spain is also looking to replace its Harriers, possibly with the F-35B. However, in 2014, Spain decided to keep its Harriers flying until after 2025 because they didn't have enough money for new planes.

Harrier Models

Hawker P.1127

(1960) - This was the very first test plane.

Kestrel FGA.1

(1964) - A test plane used by different countries.

Harrier GR.1/1A/3/3A

(from 1966) - The first operational Harrier for the RAF.

Harrier T.2/2A/4/4A/8/52/60

(from 1970) - Two-seat trainer versions of the Harrier.

AV-8A/C/S Harrier Mk.50/53/55/Matador

The US Marine Corps version of the first Harrier.

TAV-8A/S Harrier Mk.54/Matador

Two-seat trainer version for the USMC.

Sea Harrier FRS.1/FRS.51/F(A).2

(from 1978) - The naval version for aircraft carriers.

AV-8B Harrier II/EAV-8B Matador II/AV-8B Harrier II Night Attack/AV-8B Harrier II Plus

(from 1983) - The improved second-generation Harrier for the US.

TAV-8B Harrier II/ETAV-8B Matador II/

Two-seat trainer version of the second-generation Harrier.

Harrier GR.5/5A/7/7A/9/9A

(from 1985) - The improved second-generation Harrier for the UK.

Harrier T.10/12

Two-seat trainer version of the second-generation Harrier for the UK.

Images for kids

• 

  The Hawker P.1127, predecessor to the Harrier

• 

  An RAF Harrier GR3 on display at Bletchley Park, England

• 

  Royal Navy Sea Harrier FA2s on the deck of HMS Illustrious

• 

  US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier

• 

  AV-8B Harrier landing aboard Principe de Asturias

• 

  RAF Harrier GR9 arrives at RIAT 2008

Who Uses the Harrier?

Operators of the Harrier (all variants)

A Spanish Navy AV-8S Matador aircraft

United States Marine Corps AV-8A in 1980

Here are the countries that have used or still use the Harrier:

 India

• Indian Navy (used to use them)

 Italy

• Italian Navy

 Spain

• Spanish Navy

 Thailand

• Royal Thai Navy (used to use them)

 United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force (used to use them)
• Royal Navy (used to use them)

 United States

• United States Marine Corps

Harrier Specifications

The Harrier planes have a unique way of controlling their flight. They use two systems: normal controls for flying like a regular plane, and special nozzles that direct air from the engine. These nozzles are at the nose, tail, and wingtips. They help control the plane when it's hovering or flying slowly.

Sources: Nordeen

See also

In Spanish: Harrier para niños

• Aircraft in fiction - Harrier family
• Leonard v. Pepsico, Inc.
• Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

Aircraft related to this one

• Hawker P.1127/Hawker Siddeley Kestrel
• Hawker Siddeley P.1154
• Hawker Siddeley Harrier
• McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II
• British Aerospace Harrier II

Similar aircraft

• Bell X-14
• Hunting H.126
• Rockwell XFV-12
• Ryan XV-5 Vertifan
• Short SC.1
• Yakovlev Yak-36
• Yakovlev Yak-38

Lists related to this aircraft

• List of VTOL aircraft
• List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm
• List of attack aircraft
• List of fighter aircraft
• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
• List of Harrier family losses
• List of active United States military aircraft
• List of active United Kingdom military aircraft