Tag Archives: AV-8B Harrier

Marine Aviation Going After Small Maintenance Issues that Create Big Readiness Problems

Marine Aviation Going After Small Maintenance Issues that Create Big Readiness Problems

U.S. Marine Sgt. Ryan Boele (left), a MV-22 flight line mechanic chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Lance Cpl. David Bath (right), a MV-22 flight line mechanic with VMM-163, 11th MEU, adjust cables on an engine of an MV-22 Osprey within the hanger bay of the USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Dec. 27. US Marine Corps photo.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Ryan Boele (left), a MV-22 flight line mechanic chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Lance Cpl. David Bath (right), a MV-22 flight line mechanic with VMM-163, 11th MEU, adjust cables on an engine of an MV-22 Osprey within the hanger bay of the USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Dec. 27. US Marine Corps photo.

THE PENTAGON – The Marine Corps is tackling the little problems that combine to create major burdens on the aviation maintenance community, the deputy commandant for aviation told reporters today. Read More

First Marine Corps F-35B Squadron Leaves for Japan

First Marine Corps F-35B Squadron Leaves for Japan

USS AMERICA, At Sea - An F-35B Lightning II aircraft completes Envelope Expansion Testing during a Short Take-off Vertical Landing aboard USS America, Oct. 30, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

USS AMERICA, At Sea – An F-35B Lightning II aircraft completes Envelope Expansion Testing during a Short Take-off Vertical Landing aboard USS America, Oct. 30, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

This post has been updated with an additional comment from VMFA-121’s operation officer.

Ten of the Marine Corps’ newest fighter jets took off from the runway at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Ariz., on Monday and began the long trans-Pacific flight to their squadron’s new home in Japan, service officials announced today. Read More

III MEF Commander Orders Operational Pause For Harriers In Okinawa After Crash

III MEF Commander Orders Operational Pause For Harriers In Okinawa After Crash

U.S. Navy flight deck aircraft controllers signal an AV-8B Harrier pilot during flight operations at sea aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), while underway as part of the 31st MEU and BHR Expeditionary Strike Group, Aug. 27, 2016. US Marine Corps photo.

U.S. Navy flight deck aircraft controllers signal an AV-8B Harrier pilot during flight operations at sea aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), while underway as part of the 31st MEU and BHR Expeditionary Strike Group, Aug. 27, 2016. US Marine Corps photo.

All Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jets operating out of Okinawa, Japan, have been ordered to take an operational pause after a crash yesterday. Read More

USMC Harrier Crashes Near Okinawa; Pilot Safely Ejects, Rescued By Air Force

USMC Harrier Crashes Near Okinawa; Pilot Safely Ejects, Rescued By Air Force

An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to land aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), at sea, Aug. 27, 2016. US Marine Corps photo.

An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to land aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), at sea, Aug. 27, 2016. US Marine Corps photo.

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

A Marine Corps AV-8 Harrier crashed about 100 nautical miles off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, today, and the pilot was rescued after safely ejecting from the plane. Read More

Marine Harriers Strike ISIS Targets in Libya from USS Wasp

Marine Harriers Strike ISIS Targets in Libya from USS Wasp

 An AV-8B Harrier II with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), lands on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) on July 18, 2016. US Marine Corps

An AV-8B Harrier II with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), lands on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) on July 18, 2016. US Marine Corps

Marine AV-8B Harriers operating from USS Wasp (LHD-1) have struck ISIS targets Libya, two U.S. defense officials confirmed to USNI News on Wednesday. Read More

Second F-35B Squadron Stands Up At Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

Second F-35B Squadron Stands Up At Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) performs it’s first flight at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., June 29, 2016. US Marine Corps photo.

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) performs it’s first flight at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., June 29, 2016. US Marine Corps photo.

The Marine Corps’ second F-35B Joint Strike Fighter squadron stood up today, as the AV-8B Harrier-flying Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 211 became Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211. Read More

3rd MAW Preparing To Deploy F-35B While Struggling To Keep Older Planes Ready: An Operational Perspective

3rd MAW Preparing To Deploy F-35B While Struggling To Keep Older Planes Ready: An Operational Perspective

An F-35B Joint Strike Fighter from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., launching the squadron's first orientation flight, Feb. 21, 2013. US Marine Corps photo.

An F-35B Joint Strike Fighter from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., launching the squadron’s first orientation flight, Feb. 21, 2013. US Marine Corps photo.

This article is part of a two-story package on the current state of Marine Corps aviation. Please read USMC Emphasizing Spare Parts, Maintainer Training To Regain Aviation Readiness: A Headquarters Perspective for the headquarters perspective.

The flight line at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Ariz., got busier on Monday when two operational F-35B Joint Strike Fighter jets arrived at their new West Coast home. The single-seat jets are the first to join Marine Attack Squadron 211, which has flown the AV-8B Harrier II jump jet as part of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW). Read More

USMC Emphasizing Spare Parts, Maintainer Training To Regain Aviation Readiness: A Headquarters Perspective

USMC Emphasizing Spare Parts, Maintainer Training To Regain Aviation Readiness: A Headquarters Perspective

A Marine guides a CH-53 Super Stallion during a helicopter support team exercise at Landing Zone Albatross aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 2, 2015. US Marine Corps photo.

A Marine guides a CH-53 Super Stallion during a helicopter support team exercise at Landing Zone Albatross aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 2, 2015. US Marine Corps photo.

This article is part of a two-story package on the current state of Marine Corps aviation. Please read 3rd MAW Preparing To Deploy F-35B While Struggling To Keep Older Planes Ready: An Operational Perspective for the operational perspective.

The Marine Corps is getting back to the basics to solve its aviation readiness problems, with a focus on contracting for spare parts and enhanced training for aircraft maintainers at the heart of several type/model/series’ readiness recovery plans, the deputy commandant for aviation told USNI News this week. Read More

Pentagon Requests Funding To Accelerate Harrier Data Link Upgrades

Pentagon Requests Funding To Accelerate Harrier Data Link Upgrades

An AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 prepares to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) on Feb. 25, 2015. US Navy Photo

An AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 prepares to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) on Feb. 25, 2015. US Navy Photo

The Pentagon has asked for an additional $7.5 million in the current fiscal year for the Marine Corps to get started on installing the Link 16 communication system on its fleet of Boeing AV-8B Harriers. Read More