Thrust vectoring
Videos
Thrust vectoring, also known as thrust vector control (TVC), is the ability of an aircraft, rocket or other vehicle to manipulate the direction of the thrust from its engine(s) or motor(s) to control the attitude or angular velocity of the vehicle.
Graphite exhaust vanes on a V-2 rocket engine's nozzle
The pre-World War 1, British Army airship Delta, fitted with swiveling propellers
Three experimental thrust vectoring aircraft in flight; from left to right, F-18 HARV, X-31, and F-16 MATV
Sea Harrier FA.2 ZA195 front (cold) vector thrust nozzle
VTOL
Videos
A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is one that can take off and land vertically without relying on a runway. This classification can include a variety of types of aircraft including helicopters as well as thrust-vectoring fixed-wing aircraft and other hybrid aircraft with powered rotors such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and gyrodynes.
A F-35B demonstrating a vertical landing
Convair XFY-1 Pogo in flight
Bell XV-15
Fairey Jet Gyrodyne