Hawker Siddeley Harrier: The World's First Jump Jet

by Mark A. Chambers

The revolutionary Harrier took to the skies in December 1967, going on to become the star of the Royal Navy and Air Force during the Falkland Islands War in 1982. Its US derivative, the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, proved equally successful with the Marine Corps in Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Featuring a wealth of rare and previously unpublished photographs and diagrams, this photographic history explores the background that led to the development of this remarkable aircraft. Mark A. Chambers charts the history and output of Hawker Aircraft Ltd from Sopwith onwards, through the Harrier’s development, production, flight testing and operational and combat history, and also considers its future replacement, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. An effective strike fighter for several nations for almost half a century, Harrier’s longevity is testament to its practical design and viability – a truly unique combat aircraft.

156 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2017

About the author

Mark Chambers is an avid World War II aviation enthusiast and aviation history author. He has studied World War II military aviation, with a keen focus on the air war in the Pacific, extensively. He is the author of Images of Aviation: Flight Research at NASA Langley Research Center (2007), Images of Aviation: Naval Air Station Patuxent River (2014), Building the Supermarine Spitfire: Speed in the Skies (2016), The Remarkable Career of Jack Reeder, Engineering Test Pilot (2007) and From Research to Relevance: Significant Achievements in Aeronautical Research at NASA Langley, 1917–2002 (2002). He works as a government contractor technical editor for the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.