Airfix 1/24 Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 Scaled Plastic Model Kit

An aircraft undoubtedly one of the most significant in the history of aviation, the Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.1 was developed from the Hawker P.1127 experimental aircraft to test the possibilities of V/STOL vectored thrust flight. These aircraft successfully mastered the transition from hovering to forward flight and back, despite several development aircraft suffering accidents during testing. The prospect of a viable V/STOL aircraft proved to be of great interest to both the British and US military, who funded further development.

An instant hit with the British public, the Harrier was always a popular Airshow display performer — a bond which lasted right through the aircraft’s long service career. Entering Royal Air Force service in April 1969, Harriers could operate from forest clearings, sections of motorways, or even school playgrounds, acting as a significant deterrent against Eastern Bloc aggression and poised to strike against Soviet armour at a moment’s notice.