Hawker Siddeley P.1127
Hawker Siddeley · United Kingdom · first flew 1960 · fighter
The Hawker Siddeley P.1127 was the pioneering British VTOL jet that demonstrated vectored-thrust vertical take-off and landing using a single shaft-driven Pegasus turbofan with rotating nozzles. It was the direct forerunner of the Harrier.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.95 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- First practical VTOL jet aircraft using vectored thrust from a single Pegasus engine
- Four rotating exhaust nozzles — two forward (cold) and two aft (hot)
- Bicycle undercarriage with outrigger wingtip wheels
Similar in silhouette to the later Harrier but with a less refined wing and a simpler tail; the four vectoring nozzles visible under the fuselage are the defining recognition feature shared with all Pegasus-powered types.
Specifications
- The Hawker Siddeley P.1127 has a length of 12.95 m (42 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.99 m (23 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1185 km/h (736 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First tethered hover in October 1960 and conventional flight in March 1961, the P.1127 proved the vectored-thrust concept through extensive testing. Its development led directly to the Kestrel evaluation aircraft and ultimately to the Harrier, which entered RAF service in 1969.
Variants
Nine P.1127 prototypes and development aircraft were built; the subsequent Kestrel FGA.1 was the tri-national evaluation version and the Harrier GR.1 was the production derivative.
Where you'll see it
A research and development aircraft only; never entered combat service. The P.1127 lineage produced the Harrier family which served with the RAF, Royal Navy, USMC, Spanish Navy, Indian Navy, and others.
Related aircraft
- Hawker Hunter FGA.9
- Hawker Siddeley Trident
- Hawker Siddeley Dominie T.1
- Hawker Siddeley Andover C.1
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- Grumman A-6 Intruder
- Lockheed F-104G Starfighter
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