Assembled model 1/24 airplane Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 Vintage Classic Airfix A18001V 295 Parts included Arguably one of the most significant aircraft in aviation history, the Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 was developed from the Hawker P.1127 experimental aircraft built to test V/STOL thrust vectoring capabilities. These aircraft would successfully master the transition from hover to forward flight and back to hover, although several development aircraft crashed during testing. The prospect of a viable V/STOL aircraft was of great interest to both the British and American militaries, who funded further development of the aircraft. The new "Jump Jet" was an instant hit with the British public, who marveled at the ingenuity of their aviation industry, once again becoming the envy of the whole world. the world As a consummate demonstrator, the Harrier was always a popular exhibit with airshow crowds and a bond was formed between the two that lasted throughout the Harrier's long career. In the eyes of the British public, no air show was complete without a display of Britain's world leader, the Harrier. Entering service with the Royal Air Force in April 1969, the operational flexibility offered by the Harrier GR.1 ensured that the aircraft would never be too far from potential hot spots of conflict. Not limited to operations from military airfields, the Harrier could be hidden in forest clearings or scattered over stretches of highway or even school grounds, but with the intention of keeping its location hidden from the enemy. As many of these early Harriers were deployed in West Germany, they would have acted as a significant deterrent against Eastern Bloc aggression, potentially lurking in many unknown locations, ready to strike attacking Soviet armor at any moment. What's inside
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