McDonnell- Douglas AV-8B Harrier II+
Developed in the 1960s for the British Royal Air Force, first generation Harriers had limited range and payload, but could operate from short fields or take off and land vertically. This versatility led the US Marine Corps to acquire Harriers in 1971 under the designation AV-8A. Shortly thereafter, a decision was made to create a more capable version, the Harrier II, as a joint project between US and the UK.
McDonnell-Douglas developed the Harrier II with a larger composite wing, a raised cockpit with advanced targeting radar, aerodynamic improvements and a powerful Rolls Royce Pegasus vectored thrust engine. The resulting Harrier II first flew in 1981 and joined the Marine Corps in 1985. With four exhaust nozzles that can rotate from horizontal to vertical, the Harrier can “jump” off the ground in a short take off run or can even take off and land vertically.
The Harrier can carry a wide array of bombs, rockets and missiles on six underwing hard points, plus a 25mm rotary cannon with up to 300 rounds of ammunition. Fully loaded, a Harrier carries more firepower than a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress bomber!
Harrier IIs saw extensive use in 1991’s Operation Desert Storm and proved effective in close support and armed reconnaissance. General Norman Schwarzkopf praised the Harrier as one of the seven most critical weapons in the victory over Iraq. Harriers would go on to operate in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and against Houthi rebels. Operating from ships or shore, the Harrier proved to be a protector of troops on the ground in daylight or dark and any weather, making it a Marine’s best friend when the going got tough.
This Harrier on display at the Air & Space Museum has seen combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and the Red Sea, and has the 3rd highest number of combat hours of any Harrier. It is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum.
Aircraft specifications:
Wingspan: 30’ feet 4” inches (9.25 m)
Length: 46’ feet 4” inches (14.12 m)
Maximum speed: 673 mph (1,083 km/hr)
Maximum weight: 22,950 lbs. (10,410 kg)
Range: 1,400 miles (2,200 km)
Crew: 1
Thrust: 23,500 lbf (105 kN)
Engine: 1 Rolls-Royce Pegasus F402-RR-408
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Air & Space Museum