Did you know that the Harrier jump jet...?

Question

... the star of USAF air shows, is British?

Answer 1

The USAF does not keep Harrier Jets, The Marine Core does.

Yes it is as British as it comes, it is a great aircraft; guess what, many jet engines on other planes are british also, ever heard of a little engine outfit called "Rolls Royce"?

And it is not the star of USAF air shows, that would be the F-14.

Answer 2

First thing, the harrier is not the star of our airshows. I am a pilot and I have never even seen one at any airshow.
secondly, the av8a was the only british built harrier.
thirdly, the american and british harrier are apsolutely different, mainly in that the american harrier is composite, and the british is aluminum. The american version is also longer, has entirely different wings, and has entirely different frame.
The av-8b was built after the av-16 project was cancelled, the f series uses the original frame and powerplant.

http://www.danshistory.com/av8b.html
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/av-8.htm
http://www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/0/5306aebae2b024dd8525626e0048ccf7?OpenDocument
http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/av8.htm

Another example is the hornet and super hornet, which appear to be alike, but are 90% different. Also, the p-39 aircobra and the p-62 supercobra look identical, but are 100% different.

oh, and to the guy talking about the harriers in the balkans war, 6 of 28 were shot down, and NO US BUILT AIRCRAFT WERE SHOT DOWN, only israeli daggers, and french mirages.
http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avav82.html#m5
http://www.airtoaircombat.com/background.asp?id=24&bg=157

Answer 3

To all those postees saying that America "perfected" the Harrier, it was flying at least a decade before you got your hands on it, it kicked *** with those Argentinian airforce, American designed and built Skyhawks in the Falklands did it not?
You Yanks really think you are the cats whiskers don't you?

The Brits gave you the jet engine, the Brits gave you the Bell X1 design that Chuck Yeager flew (research Miles Aircraft), the Brits were the first in the air with a jet airliner, the Brits and French were the first with a viable SST (Concorde if you never heard of it), The Brits were the first with a viable Vertol aircraft, the Brits were the first to fly a manned heavier than air flying machine (George Cayley in the 1700s).... the list goes on.
While we are on the subject, 90% of all NASCAR cars are designed and built in Britain.

GROW UP.

Answer 4

Yes, the Marines have flown a AV8-A model that was completely manufactured in Britain. The only model they fly now is the Boeing-McDonnell/Douglas AV8-B. The airframes were made in the US and included composite structures such as wings that were incorporated into the design. All Harriers use the Rolls Royce Pegasus engine made in Britain. The Harrier design came from the joint British/US/German Hawker Siddlely Kestral progam which strongly resembles the Harrier in almost every way.

Answer 5

Did you know that the Harrier is not a USAF jet, it is a Marine asset.

Answer 6

Hi Tinkicker, you also forgot the Brits built the first fighter capable of supercruise (sustained flight above Mach1 without the use of re-heat) with the English Electric Lightening and the Kiwi's reckon that Richard Pearce beat the Wright Brothers by some time.

Answer 7

There are vectored-jet aircraft in the "pipeline" for the US military, but Harrier's are pretty cool! Go Brits!

Answer 8

If you know your aircraft, you know that Hawker - Siddley
designed and built the first Harrier

Answer 9

Yes, every one knows that and its not the Star. i would not get carried away. The British Air Force buys fighter jets that are American. We are friends, thats what friends do.

Answer 10

Yes I did.
I think the U.S military has made modifications to its design though, for use with the marines
Also, the U.S has produced the first verticle take off and landing aircraft that can go supersonic, but I can't recall the name..