The British designed Harrier Jump Jet was the first vertical take off and landing (VTOL) plane.

Introduced in the RAF in 1969, it’s still the only VTOL jet fighter. One of the world's most versatile ground attack planes, the Jump Jet is a formidable weapon in the arsenals of Britain and the United States.

Its propulsion system provides two sorts of power. Vertical thrust used for taking off, landing and hovering and horizontal power for moving along. Ingenious swivelling nozzles on the side of the plane direct the thrust from the engine exhausts for both vertical and horizontal flight.

The Harrier Jump Jet’s amazing manoeuvrability was used to devastating effect in the Falklands Conflict in 1982, much to the amazement of many military bigwigs. Twenty-nine Sea Harriers saw action. Two were shot down and four were lost in accidents.

The Harrier flies fast at over 1100kmph (700mph) and high at 15,000m (50,000ft).