This illustrated history covers in detail the design and development of the Hawker P.117, Kestrel and Harrier. The book examines how their designs came together, the flight testing undertaken by the manufacturer and then by the RAF, and also includes a section for some of the designs, showing alternative and rejected ways of performing the vertical take-off role for the RAF. It considers proposed developments and the Sea Harrier, focusing on the work done in the late 1950s, '60s and '70s. Consulting a wide range of primary source material, Tony Buttler presents the fullest account possible of the creation and refinement of the world's first successful vertical/short take- off vertical landing combat aircraft. AUTHOR: Tony Buttler worked for 20 years as a metallurgist in the aircraft and defence industry. Now a full-time aviation historian specialising in the design and development of military aircraft since the mid-1930s, his credits include 14 titles in the Warpaint series, and 100+ articles. He has written 'The Design and Development of the Hawker Hunter' for The History Press. SELLING POINTS: . How the Hawker P.117, Kestrel and Harrier came to be . Following on from The Design and Development of the Hawker Hunter, by the same author . A fresh approach to covering a widely written about aircraft . High percentage of new material and original research 3-view drawings will appeal to modellers; also with large selection of photographs . Written by a leading aviation authoritarian . The development of the first successful vertical/short take- off vertical landing combat aircraft AUTHOR: Tony Buttler worked for 20 years as a metallurgist in the aircraft and defense industry. His other books include American Secret Projects and Soviet Secret Projects. 210 b/w illustrations