When was the harrier jump jet built?

Answer 1

The first flight was tethered in October 1960, although the subsequent development and deployment took well over ten years. It saw only one conflict, the Falklands war, and that was the Sea Harrier variant which would take off from a ski-jump arrangement, but return to land on deck vertically. This was to permit a greater amount of fuel and weaponry to be carried.

Where the Harrier really scored in combat was a highly unorthodox manoeuvre called 'viffing' - Vectoring In Forward Flight. Should a bandit be on one's tail, one would suddenly rotate the thrust to vertical, shoot straight up, and then unleash missile towards the bandit who has suddenly appeared in front and below you.