Great innovations has always been at the heart of the aviation industry and the story of VSTOL shows just what can be achieved by great men.
The Harrier story contains 3 such great men...

Sydney Camm
Sydney Camm was born in Windsor in 1893 and was responsible for such engineering achievements as the Hawker Hurricane and Hawker Hunter. Camm was infamous for his ‘one-track mind and did not suffer fools gladly’. As Hawker Siddeley Chief Designer during the 1950’s, he assembled the finest group of aviation engineers in the UK.
His vision and determination led the team to solve so many different problems, never even contemplated in previous aircraft design.

Ralph Hooper
The youngster of the team, having been born in January 1926, Ralph Hooper was the Chief Designer of the project. He led the team during a period when a large proportion of traditional aircraft ventures were either being cancelled or abandoned.
However, the privately-funded design of the Hawker Harrier emerged in 1958, and subsequently drew the production of a General Operational Requirement (GOR) for a vertical take-off aircraft, and the issue of a full specification in 1959.

Stanley Hooker
50-year-old Stanley Hooker from Bristol-Siddeley, was responsible for the power of the P1127 / Kestrel FGA, and along with aero-engine designer Gordon Lewis.
When the Hawker P.1127 prototype (XP831) made its first tethered ‘hovering flight’ on October 21st 1960, it started a revolution in British military aviation technology that is yet to be matched.
Hawker P.1127
'Hawker aeroplanes are always beautiful, nothing wrong with that ... but we are not going to bother with all that - Vertical first time!'
Sydney Camm - 1960

Hawker Kestrel

Hawker Harrier

British Aerospace Harrier II / McDonnell Douglas AV8-B

British Aerospace Sea Harrier

The end of an era

The Harrier Story continues however...
Hawker / BAe Harrier Image Gallery

Hawker Harrier GR1a
Hawker Harrier GR1a in hover
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Hawker Harrier GR1's on exercise
Hawker Harrier GR1's on exercise under tree canopy at RAF Guteslough, Germany
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Hawker Harrier GR1 RAF (XV741) at St Pancras 5th May 1969 after Daily Mail Trans-Atlantic Air Race
Hawker Harrier GR1 RAF (XV741) at St Pancras 5th May 1969 after Daily Mail Trans-Atlantic Air Race
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

Hawker Harrier GR3
Hawker Harrier GR3 RAF firing SNEB weapons
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Hawker Harrier GR3 RAF
Hawker Harrier GR3 RAF on cold weather exercise in Norway
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BAe Harrier GR9
BAe Harrier GR9 takes a bow
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BAe Harrier GR.9 (ZG477) at RAF Cottesmore after final in service flight on 15th December 2010
BAe Harrier GR.9 (ZG477) at RAF Cottesmore after final in service flight on 15th December 2010
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

BAe Harrier T10
BAe Harrier T10.jpg
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McDonnell-Douglas AV8S Matador
McDonnell-Douglas AV8S Matador (Spanish) take off at Dunsfold
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McDonnell-Douglas Harrier II Marine Corps pair air to air
McDonnell-Douglas Harrier II Marine Corps pair air to air
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BAe Sea Harrier FRS1 flightdeck
BAe Sea Harrier FRS1 being positioned on the flightdeck 1980
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

BAe Sea Harrier FRS1 take-off from ski-jump
BAe Sea Harrier FRS1 take-off from ski-jump
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)

Hawker Sea Harrier FRS Mk51 Indian Navy
Hawker Sea Harrier FRS Mk51 Indian Navy (G-9-478) performing a controlled hover at Farnborough 1982
The images on this site are the property of BAE Systems (Copyright © 2023 BAE Systems. All rights reserved)
Variants and Number built
No. built | Variant |
---|---|
Hawker P.1127
6 built
|
Experimental V/STOL fighter |
Hawker Kestrel FGA.1
9 built
|
Tripartite Evaluation Squadron aircraft |
Hawker P.1127 (RAF)
6 built
|
Development V/STOL Ground attack & Reconnaissance Fighter |
Hawker XV-6A
6 conversions
|
U.S. Designation for Kestrel FGA1 |
Hawker VZ-12
0 delivered
|
U.S. Designation for P.1127 |
Hawker Harrier GR.1
61 built
|
Production version of P.1127 (RAF) |
Hawker Harrier GR.1A
58 built
|
Updated GR1 (engine) |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
40 built
|
Improved sensors and tracking (in lengthened nose) |
Hawker AV-8A Harrier
102 built
|
Single-seat ground attack and close air support |
MD AV-8C |
Upgraded AV-8A for US Marine Corps
|
MD AV-8S Matador | Export version of AV-8A for Spainish Navy (later with Royal Thai Navy) Also known as Mk53 and Mk55 |
Hawker Harrier T.2 | Lengthened 2-seat trainer for RAF |
Hawker Harrier T.2A | Upgraded T.2 (Pegasus Mk102) |
Hawker Harrier T.4 | 2-seat trainer for the RAF (equivalent to GR.3 |
Hawker Harrier T4.A | T.4 without laser seeker or radar warning system (Also featured short-fin of single seater) |
Hawker Harrier T.4N | 2-seat trainer for Royal Navy (based on Sea Harrier FRS.1) with avionics (excluding radar) |
Hawker Harrier T.4(I)
4 conversions
|
Conversion of T.4 airframes for Indian Navy. |
Hawker Harrier T.8 | Naval trainer fitted with Sea Harrier avionics |
Hawker Harrier T.52
1 built
|
2 seat demonstrator variant of T.2. |
Hawker Harrier T.60 | Export version of T.4N for Indian Navy |
MD TAV-8A Harrier
8 built
|
2 seat trainer for US Marine Corps (Also designated Mk54) |
MD TAV-8S Matador | Export version of TAV-8A for Spanish Navy (Later sold to Royal Thai Navy) |
BAe Sea Harrier FRS.1
57 built
|
Production aircraft - most survivors now converted to Sea Harrier FA2 |
BAe Sea Harrier FRS.51 | Single seat fighter and reconnaissance variant for Indian Navy |
BAe Sea Harrier F(A).2 | Upgrade of FRS.1 fleet in 1988 with new radar and missiles |
MD YAV-8B
2 conversions
|
Prototype conversions of AV-8A airframe |
MD AV-8B Harrier II
4 Development aircraft
162 Production aircraft
|
Day attack variant |
MB AV-8B Harrier II NA | Night attack variant with infa-red camera and upgraded cockpit (night vision) |
MD AV-8B Harrier II+
72 Conversions
43 built
|
Night attack variant with new radar - Converted from existing AV-8B and new built (1993-97) |
MD TAV-8B Harrier II | Two seat trainer (1986-92) |
MD TAV-8B Harrier II+ | Two seat trainer built for Italy (1990-91) |
MD EAV-8B Matador II
12 built
|
Spanish Navy variant (1987-88) |
MD EAV-8B Matador II+
11 Conversions
8 built
|
Spanish Navy variant - Converted from EAV-8B and new built (1995-97) |
BAe Harrier II GR5
41 built
|
2nd generation production aircraft |
BAe Harrier II GR5A | Minor changes from GR5 in anticipation of GR7 |
BAe Harrier II GR7
|
Upgrade of GR5 |
BAe Harrier II GR7a | Uprated engine for 'hot and high' carrier-borne operations |
BAe Harrier II GR9 | Uprated avionics and weapons systems |
BAE Harrier II GR9a | Uprated engine from GR7a and avionics and weapons from GR9 |
BAE Harrier II T10 | Original two seat training version of Harrier II as used for basis for the design of the US Marine Trainer and the TAV-8B |
BAE Harrier II T12
9 conversions
|
Uprated T10 aircraft to receive the JUMP update - Less powerful Pegasus 105 engine |
Specification (Harrier GR3)
Powerplant: |
1 × Rolls-Royce Pegasus 103 turbofan with four swivelling nozzles, 21,500 lbf / 95.6 kN
|
Span: | 25 ft 3 in / 7.70 m |
Maximum Weight: | 25,200 lb / 11,430 kg (Take-off) |
Capacity: | 1 pilot |
Maximum Speed: | 730 mph / 635 knots / 1,176 km/h at sea level |
Maximum Range: | 1 hr 30 min (combat air patrol – 115 mi (185 km) from base) |
Survivors
MD AV-8A
(158966)
|
Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada www.casmuseum.techno-science.ca |
Hawker Harrier GR.1
(XV277)
|
National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, Scotland
|
Hawker Harrier GR.1
(XV278)
|
Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr, Gatow, Germany www.mhm-gatow.de/ |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XV744)
|
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Chichester, West Sussex, UK www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/. |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XV748)
|
Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, UK
|
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XV751)
|
Gatwick Aviation Museum, Surrey, UK. www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk/ |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XV752)
|
Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, UK www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XV753)
|
Classic Air Force, St Mawgan, Newquay, Cornwall, UK www.classicairforce.com/ |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XV779)
|
RAF Wittering (Gate Guardian), Cambridgeshire, UK www.raf.mod.uk/rafwittering/ |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XW919)
|
Polish Aviation Museum, Kraków, Poland. www.muzeumlotnictwa.pl/ |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XZ129)
|
Ashburton Aviation Museum, Ashburton, New Zealand. www.aviationmuseum.co.nz/cms/index.php |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XZ133)
|
Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, UK www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XZ968)
|
Muckleburgh Collection, Weybourne, Norfolk, UK www.muckleburgh.co.uk/ |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XZ997)
|
RAF Museum, Hendon, London, UK www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/ |
Hawker Harrier GR.3
(XZ998)
|
Flugausstellung Leo Junior at Hermeskeil, Germany. www.flugausstellung.de/ |
BAe Sea Harrier (ZD611, ZH804, ZH811) | RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall, UK www.royalnavy.mod.uk |
BAe Sea Harrier FA2
(XZ439) TMk8 (ZD992)
|
Nalls Aviation St Mary's County, Maryland, USA www.artnalls.com/recent-news/ |
BAe Sea Harrier FA2
(XZ459)
|
Private owner near Shoreham Airport. |
BAe Sea Harrier FA2
(ZA195)
|
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Chichester, West Sussex, UK www.tangmere-museum.org.uk |
BAe Sea Harrier FA2
(ZE694)
|
Midland Air Museum, Coventry, UK www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk |
BAe Sea Harrier FA2
(ZH796)
|
Cosford DSAE, RAF Cosford, UK www.raf.mod.uk/rafcosford |
BAe Sea Harrier FA2s
(XZ440, ZD579, ZE690, ZE692, ZH797, ZH798, ZH802, ZH803, ZH813)
|
School of Flight Deck Operations at RNAS Culdrose, Cornwall, UK www.royalnavy.mod.uk |
BAe Sea Harrier FRS51
(IN621)
|
Naval Aviation Museum (India) in Goa, India www.navalaviationmuseumgoa.com |
BAe Sea Harrier FRS1
(XZ493)
BAe Sea Harrier FA2 (XZ499)
|
Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, Somerset, UK www.fleetairarm.com |
BAe Sea Harrier FRS1/FA2 (XZ457) | Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, Boscombe, wiltshire, UK www.boscombedownaviationcollection.co.uk |
BAe Sea Harrier FRS1/FA2 (ZA176) | Newark Air Museum, Newark, Nottinghamshire, UK www.newarkairmuseum.org |
BAe Sea Harrier T.8
(ZD992)
|
Everett Aero in Suffolk and is now believed to be privately owned in the Manchester area. |
Hawker Harrier T Mk52
(G-VTOL/ZA250)
|
Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey, UK www.brooklandsmuseum.com/ |