Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Harrier


3 comments:

  1. Does anyone fly them anymore?

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  2. The first time I saw a United States Marine Corps McDonnell Douglas AV-8 "Harrier", I was a Cavalry Scout (MOS 11D20) at Fort Hood, Texas, in Combat Support Company, 2/12th Cavalry (Mechanized Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division.

    We were involved in some sort of field exercise, and I watched this United States Marine Corps McDonnell Douglas AV-8 "Harrier" land in the open area across the road behind our motor pool.

    It was really neat watching that jet fighter plane making a VERTICAL landing!

    I don't remember seeing him eventually take off, but there was no runway, so obviously his takeoff had to be vertical.

    Years later, during the Falkland Islands War, which just like the war in the old Republic of Viet Nam (MY war!), was broadcast continually on television, we watched the British AV-8 "Harriers" combatting the Argentine Air Force, a war that the United Kingdom won, embarrassing the Argentines, whose leaders had sent their troops into battle unprepared for cold weather.

    I'm an old man (i.e., 74 years old), but that's how I remember everything.

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  3. Think the USMC have a few of these around. Awaiting the switch to the F-35 B's....as the become avail!

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