Historic Aircraft Lands at Arizona Museum, Adding to Aviation Legacy
Excitement filled the air as the Harrier AV-8B, a famed military aircraft, touched down at Falcon Field. This event marked the latest expansion of the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum, which honors the rich history of military aviation.
Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Marty Post, playing a pivotal role as an executive officer for the museum, shared his enthusiasm about acquiring the AV-8B. “They were in Yuma for many, many years,” Post remarked, highlighting the aircraft’s 40-year service with the Marines. He noted that after the AV-8Bs were retired in Yuma, they were succeeded by the Joint Strike Fighter. “Of course, the last remaining Harriers were in Cherry Point, North Carolina. This squadron was the second and last squadron to stand down. So there’s one more squadron left of Harriers in the Marine Corps. It’s going to stand down next year.”
Last Tuesday, Maj. Robert Weede, affectionately known as “Robin” among his peers, was warmly welcomed by museum officials and visitors after piloting the Harrier from North Carolina. Reflecting on his experience, Weede said, “I flew this one and many others like it over the years. A lot of combat hours on that aircraft. So shutting it down for the last time, it’s an honor.”
Arizona is home to at least 10 military museums, three of which are dedicated to aviation. Alongside the Arizona Commemorative Air Force Museum, enthusiasts can explore the Pima Air & Space Museum and its affiliate, the Titan Missile Museum. The latter provides a rare glimpse into Cold War history with its preserved Titan II ICBM housed in an underground silo.
Brad Elliot, representing the Arizona Aerospace Foundation, which manages both the Pima Air & Space Museum and the Titan Missile Museum, emphasized the unique experience the missile museum offers. “There’s no place in the world you could go to have that experience of Cold War history,” Elliot said. “You’re on the front lines of the Cold War when you’re down there, quite literally, and you’ve got your fingers on the key to start World War III.”
The Arizona Aerospace Foundation also launched the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum earlier this year. Despite a decline in international visitors, Elliot noted a steady influx of tourists arriving from various parts of the U.S., spurred by popular culture, including films like “Top Gun: Maverick.” These museums also serve as spaces where veterans feel encouraged to share their experiences, often revealing stories they’ve never told before. “I’ve witnessed it firsthand, where family members will say, ‘I’ve never heard grandpa talk like that before,’ and it’s just because he’s around the kind of airplane that he worked on or flew,” Elliot shared.
Apart from veterans and aviation fans, these museums draw tens of thousands of children annually through partnerships with educational institutions and youth groups. Army veteran Trevor Brugman recalled his childhood visit to the Pima Air & Space Museum as a pivotal moment that inspired his military service. “Seeing the SR 71 Blackbird, and just seeing the Cobra attack helicopter, that was incredible to me,” Brugman said.
Brugman emphasized the educational value of military museums, which preserve history and teach future generations about past conflicts. “These are things that are real,” Brugman stated. “It happened, and it’s something to learn from, so we don’t make the same mistake.”
Securing the Harrier jet, which has a model year of 2000, was a year-long effort by Post and his team, collaborating with the Marine Corps and the Navy. Post highlighted that having such a recent combat-experienced fighter jet is significant for any museum. “It’s just exciting for us to be able to exhibit this to the local folks here in the greater Phoenix area,” he expressed.
While Weede received much appreciation upon his arrival, he redirected the praise to the aircraft mechanics, acknowledging their crucial role. “All the credit goes to them in the work they put in to keep these airplanes flying,” Weede said.
For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
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