British Planes That Won the War: Harrier Jump Jet (S1EP4 Channel 5 Friday 8 July 2022)

Harrier Jump Jet: The ground-breaking Harrier was the first flying machine to use VTOL, or vertical takeoff and landing. The Cold War-era Harrier aircraft revolutionised airborne warfare. One of the fundamental problems with the aeroplane was its reliance on runways, which are vulnerable to enemy bombing raids. Tactical experts were working to solve this problem.

Without operational runways or airstrips, an entire air force could effectively be grounded. Vertical take-off became the holy grail of air combat — and it materialised in the shape of the Harrier. The Harrier’s maiden flight was in 1967, where it showcased how it propels air from its jet engine through four nozzles under the fuselage and how the nozzles can be angled downwards, lifting the plane straight up. This flexibility meant that Harriers could operate out of jungle clearings or from small helipads.

Rob reveals the engineering design that went into producing such a game-changing fighter jet and how it contributed to the Cold War deterrent. We meet Harrier pilots who took part in its first combat operation in the Falklands War, and hear about the influential role that the planes played. The Harrier may now be retired from service in Britain, but its legacy continues to influence the modern jets of today’s high-tech warfare.

Airdate: Friday 8 July 2022 at 21:00 on Channel 5

Season 1 Episode 4

Rob Bell explores how four iconic British-built aircraft became masters of the sky and pioneered a new era of flight.