The Harrier seen making the B7 turn in awesome footage
- The Harrier was developed in the 1950s and gained fame for its ability to take off vertically like a helicopter
- One of these legendary aircraft was recently spotted in Seattle
- In spite of the heavy rain, it managed to make an effortless turn
Published on May 13, 2024 at 12:28 PM (UTC-4)
by Andie Reeves
Last updated on May 13, 2024 at 12:28 PM (UTC-4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The legendary Harrier fighter jet was just spotted in Seattle.
The aircraft’s unique vertical and short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) capabilities make witnessing this aviation marvel all the more thrilling.
However – this b eing Seattle – the weather was not ideal for flying.
The footage of how the aircraft handles turning in a downpour, however, is undeniably elegant.
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The Harrier was developed by the British in the 1950s and went into service in the 1960s.
What makes this such an iconic aircraft is the fact that it can take off vertically like a helicopter.
This makes it one of the earliest predecessors to today’s eVTOLs, like XPeng’s X2.
At the time, the Harrier’s ability to take-off from any location gave it a massive edge in combat situations.
It was designed for a range of missions, such as air-to-air combat, reconnaissance, and ground attack.
The Harrier was an especially critical component of the US Marine Corps, due to its ability to land on and take-off from amphibious assault ships.
Whether it’s getting to see the inside of the cockpit of the F-22 Raptor or a MiG-17 conducting a flyby, seeing a legend of the aviation world is always a treat.
Seattle residents were recently able to catch not one, but a whole fleet of Harriers, in action.
According to Reddit users, the nine Harriers were flying in from North Carolina after completing training exercises in Alaska.
One rainy morning, someone captured one of the aircraft performing a turn on the runway in effortless style.
The Marines trained the last two pilots for this aircraft last month, as it prepares to retire the Harrier from its fleet.
As of September 2026, these remarkable feats of engineering will no longer be in service, making sightings like these even rarer.
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Andie is a content writer from South Africa with a background in broadcasting and journalism. Starting her career in the glossy pages of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Andie has a broad portfolio, covering everything from sustainability solutions to celebrity car collections. When not at her laptop Andie can be found sewing, recording her podcast, taking board games too seriously or road-tripping in her bright green Kia.
