<p><br /> Britain's Harrier jump jets have made their final flight before being axe in Government cuts to the defence budget.<br /> </p><p><br /> The 16-strong fleet of fighters soared into the grey skies above RAF Cottesmore in the East Midlands on a farewell journey.<br /> </p><p><br /> The jets date back to the 1960s when the first generation of Harriers were built in the UK. They became famous for their ability to hover above the ground.<br /> </p><p><br /> In 1969 the Royal Air Force became the first in the world to use the jets' unusual vertical take-off and landing abilities.<br /> </p><p><br /> This distinctive feature enabled the aircraft to fly in and out of areas near to the battlefield that conventional aircraft cannot reach.<br /> </p><p><br /> But the planes fell victim to the recent bout of belt-tightening by the coalition, which announced they would be removed from service in this autumn's defence review.<br /> </p>
