Harrier jump jet: from fearsome fighter to final flight

1967: A Hawker Siddeley Harrier refuelling inflight from a Royal Air Force Victor tanker aircraft Photograph: PA/PA

1969: A Harrier on its maiden flight from the Hawker Siddeley Aviation's test airfield at Dunsfold, Surrey Photograph: PA/PA

1975: A Harrier's downward thrust raises a curtain of spray as the Hawker Siddeley jump jet comes in to land on HMS Fearless, berthing at Greenwich Photograph: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Images

1982: Royal Marines lined up for a weapons check in the hanger of HMS Hermes in the south Atlantic Photograph: Martin Cleaver/PA

Margaret Thatcher inspects a Sea Harrier aircraft, during a visit to the British Aerospace factory at Dunsfold, Surrey, in 1982 Photograph: John Downing/Getty Images

1991: The Princess of Wales watches as Prince Harry sits in the cockpit of a Harrier GR5 during a visit to RAF Whittering Photograph: Martin Keene/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Different models of the Royal Air Force's Harrier jets during flight Photograph: Jamie Hunter/PA

Harrier jets in formation during flight Photograph: Jamie Hunter/PA

1999: An RAF ground crew engineer tending a Harrier jet shelters from the rain that postponed any daytime flying, from Gioia del Colle airforce base in southern Italy. The aircraft were part of the Nato force involved in airstrikes in the former Yugoslavia and Kosovo Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive/Press Association Images

An RAF GR7 Harrier is waved on by ground crew as it taxis to the runway on its base in Kuwait prior to its mission over Iraq in 2003 Photograph: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Images

2003: An RAF Harrier based in Kuwait is seen through a night sight behind a member of the ground crew prior to its mission over Iraq Photograph: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Images

A Harrier GR9 landing on the recently decommissioned Ark Royal aircraft carrier Photograph: Luis Holden/EPA

2007: A Harrier jet taxies at Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Harrier jump jets take off at RAF Cottesmore in Oakham, as they carry out flypasts on what was billed as their 'final flight' before they were retired Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

A parade marking the decomissioning of GR9 Harrier fighter planes after their last flight at RAF Cottesmore Photograph: Corporal Francine Rose Mckay Abi/handout/EPA

Harrier pilots after the last flight Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

Two Harriers put on a display at RAF Cottesmore. A flypast included passing over seven military bases, the town centres of Stamford and Oakham and Lincoln Cathedral Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

Wing Commander Simon Jessett waves from the Harrier cockpit after the last flight Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

Harriers in formation to mark the retirement of the Harrier aircraft above RAF Cottesmore Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA