Hawker Siddeley P.1127 Hawker Siddeley P.1127 The Hawker P.1127 and the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1 are the experimental and development aircraft that led to the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first "vertical and/or short take-off and landing" (V/STOL) jet fighter-bomber. P.1127 development began in 1957, taking advantage of the Bristol Engine Company's choice to invest in the creation of the Pegasus vectored-thrust engine. Testing began in July 1960 and by the end of the year the aircraft had achieved both vertical take-off and horizontal flight. The test program also explored the possibility of use upon aircraft carriers, landing on in 1963. The first three
First-generation jet fighter American jet fighter to be put into service. It was never used in combat, as was mainly useful as an experimental fighter as its performance was inferior to the piston-engined North American P-51 Mustang which could reach higher top speeds and had a much greater range. Japan had some experimental models, such as the Nakajima J9Y "Kikka", but none saw operational use. The plans for the first operational jet fighter, the Messerschmitt Me 262 "Schwalbe" were drawn up in 1939, and the airplane first flew under jet power in 1942. The Me 262 was not operational until 1944, and its