About This Aircraft
The Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1 was the immediate predecessor to the Harrier "jump jet". This aircraft, XS695, was one of nine pre-production aircraft developed from the earlier P.1127 prototype. In 1965, these nine Kestrels were used to form the Tripartite Evaluation Squadron (TES), where British, American, and German pilots collectively assessed the pioneering vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities of the design. Powered by a Bristol Siddeley Pegasus vectored-thrust turbofan, the Kestrel demonstrated the operational viability of VTOL flight from dispersed, unprepared sites. The successful evaluation by the TES provided the final impetus for the development of the production Harrier, which would achieve worldwide acclaim.
Museums Featuring This Aircraft
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