An estimated 1,000 people welcomed the arrival of Hickory Aviation Museum’s newest plane, an AV-8B Harrier II jet, on Monday afternoon. The Hickory Aviation Museum welcomed an AV-8B Harrier II jet on Monday. People lined the roads to get a glimpse of the jet.
The pilot of one of the two jump jets, Major John ‘Traper’ Cumbie, demonstrated some of the abilities of the jet. Though the aircraft did not hover, which is one of the unique abilities of the jet, the pilot demonstrated its ability to land and take off on short runways by slowly (60 to 70 knots, or around 70 m.p.
h.) descending at a steep angle, briefly taxiing and then rapidly accelerating before taking off back into the sky. The jet made three passes over the airport before landing for the final time.
The jet was then given a water salute by two trucks with the Hickory Fire Department. The pilot was greeted with applause and cheers from people gathered on airport property. People swarm the tarmac to view the Harrier jump jet after landing at Hickory Regional Airport Monday afternoon.
After the plane landed, people at Hickory Regional Airport were able to view the jet up close and speak with Marines. “Oh my God, that thing is a beauty,” one teenager exclaimed as he approached the jet. Major Lucas Pumphrey, who has flown jump jets, said the aircraft is complicated to fly.
Lt. Colonel John 'Traper' Cumbie poses with one of the people who came to Monday afternoon's event at the Hickory Regional Airport. “It has.