McDonnell Douglas AV-16A

The McDonnell Douglas AV‑16A was an experimental vertical‑/short‑takeoff‑and‑landing (V/STOL) attack aircraft conceived in the early 1970s as a U.S. adaptation of the British Hawker Siddeley Harrier. Developed under the Naval Air Development Center’s “AV‑16” program, the prototype incorporated McDonnell Douglas‑designed air‑frame refinements and advanced avionics while retaining the Harrier’s hallmark Pegasus turbofan with four‑vectoring nozzles for thrust‑directed lift. First flown in 1975, the AV‑16A demonstrated rapid transition from hover to supersonic flight, a payload capacity of up to 5,000 lb of ordnance, and the ability to operate from aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, and austere forward bases. Although the AV‑16A never entered production, its flight‑test data were instrumental in shaping the subsequent AV‑8A Harrier for the U.S. Marine Corps and the later AV‑8B Harrier II, which became a cornerstone of Marine close‑air support. The aircraft’s legacy lies in proving the operational viability of V/STOL combat platforms for the United States, influencing modern tilt‑rotor and lift‑fan concepts, and cementing McDonnell Douglas’s reputation as an innovator in unconventional aircraft design.