Harrier - Philip Birtles

Harrier tells the story of the unique development of the world’s first practical V/STOL combat concept, from its first outrigger-constrained hover to its dominance as a versatile ground-attack aircraft, able to deliver multiple precision weapons in close support of ground troops and in defence of naval assets. When first flown, the aircraft could barely carry enough fuel for more than a few minutes of hovering, but its potential was indisputable, as proved by the later US Marine Corps AV-8B Plus and RAF GR.9, which could both deliver over 2 tons of ordnance with great accuracy, day and night, in all weathers.The story of this aircraft, which brought a whole new concept to air combat, covers the development of the V/STOL system into a practical asset and the Harrier’s operational service in regional conflicts with the USMC, RAF, and FAA. It was the key British aircraft in the Falklands Campaign, with both RAF Harriers and FAA Sea Harriers serving there, and was an instrumental component of the Indian, Spanish, and Italian navies. This book is illustrated with over 400 images documenting the aircraft’s development, the majority of which are previously unpublished.