Vertical take-off fighter aircraft

Considering how many different designs of fighter aircraft there have been over the years, and how useful it would be to have them be able to Vertically Take Off and Land (VTOL) to avoid being stuck on vulnerable air fields, it is a surprise that there have been so few successful VTOL fighters. The Harrier, the JSF and a few Yakovlevs and that is it.

However, as Bill Rose's excellent book from 2013 shows, that hasn't been for lack of trying. The reason so few have succeeded is down to one simple reason: it is hard. Dozens of designs have existed since the Second World War. A few made it as far as flying test beds, i particularly like the Ryan X-13 tail sitter, the noise of it taking off or landing must have been epic. 

Very very few designs ever made it into service, they are mentioned above and are given coverage in this book though i found some of the more outlandish concepts that never made it beyond the drawing board most interesting. 

One design which definitely did make it beyond the drawing board was the iconic Harrier, here are a couple of photographs of Harrier jump jets from the RAF museums at Cosford and London.