Hawker Siddeley P.1127 / Kestrel
1964
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Hawker Siddeley P.1127 / Kestrel

The Kestrel FGA Mk 1 ground attack fighter was an operational evaluation derivative of the P.1127 V/STOL (vertical and short take-off and landing) aircraft, development of which was initiated as a private venture in 1957. Six prototypes of the P.1127 were built, the first of these rising vertically on the vectored thrust of an 5126kg Pegasus 2 engine on 21 October 1960, followed by its first conventional flight on 13 March 1961. Nine evaluation aircraft were ordered for Tripartite (British-US-German) evaluation trials as Kestrel FGA Mk 1s, these introducing a fully-swept wing, a taller vertical tail, a bulged and slightly lengthened fuselage and a 6804kg Pegasus 5 engine. The first of these flew on 7 March 1964. A Tripartite Trials Squadron existed from 15 October 1964 until 30 November 1965, after which six of the Kestrels were transferred to the USA where they were designated XV-6As. The Kestrel featured two wing hardpoints each capable of lifting gun pods or stores of up to 450kg. The Kestrel was to provide the basis for the British Aerospace Harrier (and McDonnell Douglas AV-8B) close support and tactical reconnaissance aircraft.

3-View 
P.1127 prototypeA three-view drawing of P.1127 prototype (1300 x 1128)


Specification 
 WEIGHTS
    Take-off weight5625-7031 kg12401 - 15501 lb
    Empty weight4445 kg9800 lb
 DIMENSIONS
    Wingspan6.96 m23 ft 10 in
    Length12.95 m43 ft 6 in
    Height3.28 m11 ft 9 in
    Wing area17.28 m2186.00 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
    Max. speed1067 km/h663 mph

Comments 
John Beard, johnbeard(@)ntlworld.com, 21.12.2009

as a former member of the Sqn (attached RAF Fireman) my understanding was that it was formed on 1 April 1964

Feroz Y Khan, ferozyunuskhan(@)yahoo.ca, 15.09.2009

My favourite fighters are the VSTOL VTOL.I like them for they remind me of space,outer space.They are monuverable and can attack enemies supersonic and faster.They are like robotech Alpha fighters and Mospeada and Contra Grey Alphas.Star Blazers,Cosmo tigers.E.D.F.,U.F.P.,I.S.A.F.,U.N.Spacy,They are supersonic and monuverable.High monuverability.I would love to use them in Ace Combat video game.They carry payload and weapons packs.I wonder what they would look like as a robot.What is their AC units?GoBots and Transformers.That's why I Qn.Armada like G1,G2,G3,Headmasters,Super God Masterforce{without 3rd world transmen Cab}and Transformers movies,ROTF.I would like to know more about them and hatred roller coasters.Not enough info,go harriers.Carrierbourne and navy is interesting Military Channel.1hr about them instead of Super Hornets.CNE Airshow should get VSTOL VTOL fighters as they had the "Blue Angels".Toronto International Airshow.They have the F-16 Viper.YYZ.Toronto Island Airport and Lester B.Pearson International Airport are the areas and U.S. carriers to prepare for our airshow.Americans pilot the AV harrier like a helicopter gunship and many Apache helicopter pilots pilot AV's.Don't know the set of G forces monuvers and VSTOL,VTOL.What are STOVL,STOL and how do they fly like that.There must be a scientist?Machine.Terminator movies and t.v. and video games.Kestrel fighter squadron is like the Blue Angels and Snowbirds.JSF.WW3's role,any alert Kestrel is on.

Ian, taffwob(@)googlemail.com, 22.04.2009

I used to work with an old guy who used to build wooden mock ups for HS when they were developing the airframes for these jets. They used to mark everything out with a sharpened rivet & build from scratch. Really interesting guy you could talk to all day. He worked on all sorts Hunter, Sea Hawk but he'd always talk about them as P1127 etc.

andrew s, andrew.schimanski(@)ntlworld.com, 01.11.2008

You are thinking of the larger & supersonic P.1154 which was to be called the Harrier in service. -the kestrel was later renamed the Harrier after the 1154 was cancelled in 1964. The Kestrel was a private venture by hawker & thus immune from government cancellation.

Robert Scott, buccpilot(@)yahoo.co.uk, 12.06.2008

If my memory serves me correctly, the name Kestrel was given to the two-seat version that was specifically destined for the RN (Fleet Air Arm). The Kestrel project was subsequently cancelled by Wilson and Cronies, along with the TSR2, V1000, etc.

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