The Royal Air Force

A Harrier GR7 pilot walks away from his aircraft after a mission over Iraq, at their base in Kuwait, 2003.
Russell Boyce / AP

Vertical Takeoff
A Harrier GR7 pilot walks away from his aircraft at a base in Kuwait in 2003, after a flying mission over Iraq. The Harrier "jump jet" had unique vertical take off and landing capabilities that allowed it to operate in combat zones without conventional landing strips.

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