Spanish aircraft draws Prestwick crowd

Hundreds of aviation enthusiasts gathered around Prestwick Airport over the weekend to watch the arrival and departure of four rare Spanish Harrier aircraft.

The Spanish Navy’s EAV-8B Harrier II jets flew in from a detachment in the United States.

Based at Rota Naval Station in southern Spain, the aircraft are famous for their ability to take off and land vertically without needing a conventional runway.

Large crowds of plane spotters to the airport’s viewing areas followed flight-tracking apps to catch the action.

Spain is expected to become the last nation still operating the Harrier after the aircraft has now been retired by the United States and is due to be phased out by Italy.