Story Category: Press Releases »

The world’s ONLY civilian-owned and flown Harrier has just completed 100 successful flights.After shedding its military weapons and markings and being outfitted for civilian service, the Sea Harrier,FA.2 is in its fifth airshow season, performing before crowds all over the eastern United States.

The landmark 100th flight was before a huge crowd at Saturday’s “Thunder over Michigan” in Ypsilanti.  Special graphics outfitted the Harrier’s vertical fin to mark the event.

“It’s amazing that we’ve come this far,” said the plane’s owner and pilot, Art Nalls.  Nalls, a retired Marine Corps pilot, flew Harriers while on active duty and as a test pilot. He shares the flying duties with a long-time associate, Joe Anderson, also a retired Marine and former test pilot.  Anderson is a native of Detroit.  Anderson attended high school within a few miles of the airport where the Harrier performed Saturday.

“Most of our critics were doubtful we’d ever get the airplane airborne for one flight, much less the magic mark of 100,” said Nalls.  “We’re in the middle of our show season with a handful of flights left for the year.  I expect we’ll easily top 110 before the year is out.”

The Sea Harrier was originally designed to meet the Royal Navy specifications for a shipboard fighter, capable of carrying missiles, guns, rockets and bombs.  It is similar in many respects to the AV-8B Harrier currently flown by the US Marines.  The Marines have been flying Harriers since the 1970’s, but expect the Harriers to be replaced by the F-35B within the next decade.

 The Sea Harrier, known by the Brits as the “SHAR”, was originally equipped with a Blue Vixen radar to locate and target hostile aircraft before unleashing its lethal load.  It is a rare aircraft with only 76 of this particular model ever being built.  It is also the only civilian Harrier flying anywhere in the world.