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Harrier

The World's First VSTOL Jet Combat Aircraft
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Harrier tells the story of the unique development of a practical V/STOL combat concept, from its first out-rigger constrained hover to a very versatile ground attack aircraft, which could deliver multiple precision weapons in close support of ground troops, as well as air defence of naval assets. When first flown, the aircraft could barely carry enough fuel for more than a few minutes of hovering, but with the later US Marine Corps AV-8B Plus and RAF GR.9s, it could deliver over two 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, as well as its operational service in regional conflicts with both the USMC and RAF in Europe and the Middle East. It was also the Allied key aircraft in the Falklands Campaign with both RAF Harriers and FAA Sea Harriers. Harriers also served with the Indian, Spanish, and Italian navies. The book is illustrated with many previously unpublished colour and black & white photos from the author's collection.
Philip Birtles joined the de Havilland Aeronautical Technical School in 1957 as an engineering apprentice and worked as PA to John Cunningham, Second World War night fighter ace and chief test pilot. He went into marketing for aircraft and later weapons systems, followed by being appointed senior contracts executive on BAe.146 customer deliveries until Hatfield Aerodrome closed in 1993. Birtles wrote the first of some fifty books on aerospace subjects in 1980 and has been involved with the de Havilland Aircraft Museum as a volunteer for around fifty years.
Foreword; Introduction; 1 Jet VTOL; 2 P.1127 design; 3 P.1127 flight testing; 4 Kestrel; 5 P.1154; 6 GR.1 to GR.3; 7 Two-Seat Trainers; 8 USMC AV-8As; 9 Sea Harriers; 10 The Falklands; 11 Harrier II AV-8B development; 12 RAF Harrier II development; 13 RAF Harrier II in Service; 14 USMC AV-8B Service; 15 Foreign Sales; 16 RAF Harrier Operations; Appendix I: Surviving Harriers; Appendix II: Production; Appendix III: Specifications; Appendix IV: Units.
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