Constructed as a Kestrel FGA.1 by Hawker Siddeley at Dunsfold, this aircraft was one of a handful assigned to the Tripartite Evaluation Squadron at West Raynham in 1964. After testing was concluded in England at the end of 1965, six of the aircraft were sold to the US for further testing. They were re-designated as the XV-6A and given USAF serials, this one being 64-18264. The initial conclusion was that there was not a need for such an aircraft in the US forces, but of course history proved otherwise, the AV-8 becoming a great success in the USMC

Wing section stored on the roof of a shed. First flew as XS694 in 1965. To the USAF as 64-18268 then to NASA as NASA 520 in 1966. Crash landed at Wallops Island, VA in 1967 then used for parts. To a paintball field at Blakeslee, PA in derelict condition. Recovered by a collector. Arrived at the Museum in 2018.

In 1957 the Hawker Aircraft Company began private development of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft built around the new Bristol Engine Company's Pegasus engine. The aircraft called the P.1127 was initially built without government funding but it soon attracted the attention of the British government which funded further development. In 1964 the service test version of the aircraft, renamed Kestrel, was ready for testing.

One of nine Kestrel development aircraft built in 1964/5 for evaluation, and used by the Tri-partite Kestrel Evaluation Squadron at RAF West Raynham in 1965. It was then used for trials at RAE Bedford and A&AEE Boscombe Down, where it was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident on 1 March 1967. It spent some time with RNEC Manadon for ground instruction, where the wings from XS696 were fitted. It moved to the School of Aircraft Handling at Culdrose in April 1978, and was eventually moved to the RAF Museum Cosford in November 2001, where it is now on display.

One of nine Kestrel development aircraft built in 1964/5 for evaluation, and used by the Tri-partite Kestrel Evaluation Squadron at RAF West Raynham in 1965. It was then used for trials at RAE Bedford and A&AEE Boscombe Down, where it was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident on 1 March 1967. It spent some time with RNEC Manadon for ground instruction, where the wings from XS696 were fitted. It moved to the School of Aircraft Handling at Culdrose in April 1978, and was eventually moved to the RAF Museum Cosford in November 2001, where it is now on display.

This is the first production aircraft of the tripartite squadron batch

Displayed by Bill Bedford

Before its retirement to Museum status XS695 was used as a Deck-handling airframe at the Culdrose school while the Navy were working up to operational readiness with their Harriers

The Kestrel was a step between the straight-winged Hawker P.1127 prototypes and the operational Harrier. This aircraft wears the awkward markings of the Tripartite Evaluation Squadron, which consisted of British, US and West German personnel. In 1965 the projected Mach 2 Harrier was cancelled, and the Harrier ended up as just a straightforward development from the Kestrel.

Based on the pioneering Hawker P.1127 VTOL aircraft, the Kestrel was a development operated by the Tripartite Evaluation Squadron in 1965, based at RAF West Raynham and comprising crews from the UK, USA and West Germany, hence the unique markings seen here. They used nearby abandoned airfields for testing on unprepared runways and on grass. Nine were built before progress onto the fully-fledged Harrier GR.1. XS695 has been superbly restored and was placed on display at the start of 2014