V/STOL
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Template:Types of take-off and landing V/STOL is an acronym for Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing. V/STOL aircraft can take-off or land vertically or on short runways. The Hawker-Siddeley Harrier is perhaps the most famous production V/STOL aircraft.
V/STOL was originally developed to allow fast jets to be operated from clearings in forests, removing their reliance on damage-prone runways and small aircraft carriers that would previously only have been able to carry helicopters.
V/STOL has been replaced by STOVL in popularity because it reduces the amount of thrust required to lift a fully laden aircraft from the ground, and hence allows a greater load to be carried. For instance, the Harrier is incapable of taking off vertically with a full weapons and fuel load, and hence is operated as STOVL wherever possible.