Hawker Siddeley Harrier Hawker Siddeley Harrier The Hawker Siddeley Harrier, developed in the 1960s, is the first of the Harrier Jump Jet series of aircraft. It was the first operational close-support and reconnaissance fighter aircraft with vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) capabilities and the only truly successful V/STOL design of the many that arose in that era. The Harrier was developed directly from the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel prototype aircraft, following the cancellation of a more advanced supersonic aircraft, the Hawker Siddeley P.1154. The British Royal Air Force (RAF) ordered the Harrier GR.1 and GR.3 variants in the late 1960s. It was exported to
Hawker Hoopoe fitted during the short trial period, two variants of the Bristol Mercury were later replaced by an Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar and Panther with an increase in performance. Trials at Felixstowe in 1929 with floats fitted showed that the aircraft was severely underpowered with the Mercury powerplant, requiring the change to the Jaguar engine. Service interest in the type had waned by autumn 1930 although the single prototype continued in development flying with Armstrong Siddeley and the Royal Aircraft Establishment until 1932 when the Hoopoe was scrapped. Hawker Hoopoe The Hawker Hoopoe was a British prototype naval fighter aircraft designed and