YAV-8B Harrier II (First Flight 1978)

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The eye-catching trademark of the AV-8B Harrier II — its vertical/short takeoff and landing capability — makes the Harrier II one of the most recognizable aircraft in the world. In 1969, McDonnell Douglas teamed with British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce to develop the AV-8B Harrier II as an improvement over the original Harrier. The YAV-8B's first flight took place on Nov. 9, 1978. Full-scale production began in 1981 and the Harrier II entered service in 1983.