Page 30 - World Airshow News Q3 2024

tHE FINAL uSmC AV-8b HARRIER DEmOS By Owen Hewitt

Major Eric Scheibe hovers the AV-8B Harrier II for the crowds at the 2024 MCAS Cherry Point Air Show, the
site of the final Harrier flight demonstrations (photo by Owen Hewitt).

THE LAST HOVER

uring the weekend of May 11-12, over 120,000 peo- in South Carolina first introduced the type. The following year,
ple gathered at the MCAS Cherry Point Air Show in VMA-542, also based at MCAS Beaufort, added a second squad-
Havelock, North Carolina to witness the end of an era ron of AV-8A Harriers. In 1974, VMA-542 was moved to MCAS
D – the final performances of the USMC AV-8B Harrier Cherry Point, where it remains today, now operating as VMFA-
II in front an airshow crowd. 542. MCAS Cherry Point has been a crucial part of the story of
The history of the Harrier “Jump Jet” dates to the late the Harrier with the Marines ever since.
1960s when the British Aerospace Harrier GR.1 Short Take- In the past forty-plus years, USMC Harriers have support-
Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) conducted its first flight ed a significant list of operations around the world and con-
in December of 1967. The British-designed craft was revo- tinue the fight to this day. Examples include Operation Desert
lutionary for the era and continues to influence aircraft de- Storm, Operation Allied Force, Operation Enduring Freedom,
sign to this day. The Harrier attracted the interest of the U.S. Operation Iraqi Freedom, and currently with Operation
Marine Corps (USMC) because of its unique ability to land Prosperity Guardian. To keep the tip of the spear sharp, the
and take off vertically like a helicopter. This enabled it to op- VMA-223 “Bulldogs” also participated in Alaska Red Flag.
erate from unimproved airfields and roads near the front
lines, or from small deck amphibious assault ships, allowing A tImE OF tRANSItION
a quick response in the close air support of ground forces. As one enters the main gate for MCAS Cherry Point, you are
The earliest version, the Harrier AV-8A, was acquired greeted by a sign that proudly states “Pardon our noise. It is the
by the USMC in 1971 when VMA-513 at MCAS Beaufort sound of freedom!” That noise, often marked by the characteristic

www.airshowmag.com 30 Quarter 3, 2024