The Marine Corps is bidding farewell to a decades-old jet and plans to send it off with fanfare and contrails of shimmering vapor in one of its final public appearances.
The AV-8B Harrier II has been a tactical stalwart for the service since the 1980s -- and even before that, in different configurations -- solidifying it in Marine Corps history as a legendary aircraft. It was involved in several operations around the world, including recently when pilots were hunting down drones in the Red Sea amid turmoil in the region.
On Saturday and Sunday, it will make its final appearance at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina during a biennial air show at the installation that has historically drawn crowds of around 150,000 people.
Read Next: 'They Took My Gift Away': In Interview, Mother of Florida Airman Killed by Police Describes Shock
The service is trading the older jet for the new F-35 Lightning II, and the Harrier can expect to see its final days of service sometime in 2026, according to the Marine Corps' aviation plans. The base air show, which will include one of the jet's final public demonstrations, will be held in Havelock, North Carolina -- a huge event that has racked up several awards in previous years.
"This year includes a demonstration of the AV-8B Harrier II for its last performance at the MCAS Cherry Point Air Show as we continue to transition to the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter," Maj. Gen. Scott Benedict, the commanding officer of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, said in a released statement. "The AV-8B Harrier II has been a hallmark of Havelock and the surrounding communities, having had more than a 40-year presence in eastern North Carolina after first arriving to MCAS Cherry Point in January 1984."
The jet, which is a short takeoff, vertical landing aircraft, has seen action in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Allied Force in 1999 in the former Yugoslavia, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and elsewhere, according to Benedict.
Earlier this year, the Corps trained its final batch of Marines who work on the jet's engine. Five Marines graduated from a 60-day course aimed at taming and troubleshooting its formidable F402 engine; they headed to the fleet to help keep the aircraft up as it sunsets.
Other jet-related jobs are seeing their own sunset, to include the graduation of the Corps' last weapons system officer, or "wizzo," for the F/A-18 whom Military.com interviewed earlier this year.
But during the upcoming weekend, pilots operating some of the Corps' more than 60 Harriers will hit their cockpits and take to the air for one of the last times in front of the public.
"The demo is not too far from what we do every day," Maj. Eric Scheibe, a pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 231, or VMA-231, told Military.com in a statement via email. "It showcases what the aircraft can do and what its capabilities are. It's short takeoffs to simulated attacks. It's nice to be able to showcase that, all the work that has gone into it. The squadron is excited."
The event offers other demonstrations as well, including a Navy Blue Angels flight and F-22 Raptors shooting across the sky. The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band will play, and static displays of military equipment are expected to draw large crowds.
The last air show at Cherry Point took place in September 2021 and saw fewer numbers than usual, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gates for this year's event open at 9 a.m. aboard the installation.
"The air show celebrates our long-standing relationship with our neighbors in the local community and provides visitors a chance to speak with Marines and sailors while showcasing world-class civilian performers, military flight demonstration teams, historical aircraft, and the capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force," Benedict said.
Related: The Final 'Wizzo': Marine Corps Captain Graduates as Service's Last F/A-18 Weapons Systems Officer
