How Much Fuel Does the Harrier Burn in VTOL? Harrier pilots Luke “Warren” Jacobs and Frank “Pugs” Smith explain one of the biggest tradeoffs of V/STOL flight: fuel burn. In full vertical takeoff, especially when carrying ordnance, the Harrier consumes fuel at an enormous rate, making pure VTOL a powerful but often impractical tactical option. In most combat scenarios, pilots relied on short or rolling takeoffs to balance payload, range, and survivability. To learn more about the Harrier, check o

34K views · 358 reactions | USMC AV-8B Harrier II departing from an...