5 ms·

Did the Harrier just get skipped by the rest of the world? fossil fuel VTOL was cracked in the late 60s.

• alluro2 4y ago
  When talking about practical small plane with relatively acceptable noise levels and fuel efficiency, I don't think Harrier counts as it "being cracked". 125dB at 100 feet from the plane, very limited time it can spend on vertical takeoff while loaded, limited situations (fuel/weight/thrust ratio) in which it can hover at all...If it was cracked, the newer iteration of the "same thing" - F-35B - wouldn't be so complex and take so many billions to develop...
  • nradov 4y ago
    And the Harrier only barely worked at all. For most operational missions, they couldn't really make true vertical take-offs and landings. Instead they usually had to make short ground rolls to get some lift from the wings, or have a carrier ship sail into the wind. And the mishap rate was appalling.