Marine Corps’ Harrier lands at Wings Over the Rockies
By Clarke Reader
Most of us would never get to see the aircraft on display at Wings Over the Rockies up close, which is part of what makes it so exciting when the museum gets a new plane. And it’s particularly thrilling when an underrepresented branch of the military gets some shine at the same time.
That’s just what’s happening with the unveiling of the AV-8B+ Harrier II, a symbol of power, precision, and the Marine Corps’ legacy of close air support, on Friday, Aug. 1 at the Wings Over the Rockies’ Air & Space Museum, 7711 East Academy Blvd. in Denver.
As part of Wings’ Cockpit Demo Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, guests will be able to look inside the Harrier, as well as other aircraft.
“For years, we’ve had planes from the Navy and Air Force, so this is an opportunity to showcase a branch you don’t hear much about in Colorado,” said Stewart Bailey, the museum’s curator. “The Marine Corps are the only group in the country that operated Harriers, so there’s a lot of pride that we have this plane now.”
According to information provided by the museum, the Harrier has four rotating exhaust nozzles (which allow it to be used similarly to a helicopter), a rugged airframe and combat-proven weapons systems. Harriers’ Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing capabilities allow them to be used everywhere from beaches to the decks of amphibious ships.
The aircraft has been used in overseas conflicts from Operation Desert Storm to missions against ISIS and more, but things are changing. The Marine Corps are transitioning to the cutting-edge F-35B Lightning II and the F35C Lighting II, and all Harrier operations are expected to wind down by 2027.
“The Harriers are being retired, so we had the rare opportunity to put in a request for this plane and have it approved,” Bailey said. “What makes this individual plane special is it’s had the third highest combat time in the Marine Corps. And we didn’t pretty it up for display. This is how it looks.”
In the future, the museum aims to build an exhibit around the aircraft that gives visitors an insight into the story of the plane, the people who designed it, flew it and more. Connecting with the people who are responsible for the technology helps give visitors a sense of the plane’s impact on history.
“If you want to see an incredible airplane, then come see the Harrier. We didn’t have anything else like this,” Bailey said. “It’s definitely a different kind of jet and did things no other airplane of its type could.”
For more information and tickets, visit https://wingsmuseum.org/exhibits/av-8b-harrier-ii/.