AV-8B Harrier arrives at Hickory Aviation Museum

One of the largest nonprofit aviation museums in the state with over 1,000 aviation lovers witnessed a historical moment late Monday afternoon. 

Despite intermittent rain, onlookers gathered at the Hickory Regional Airport to watch a retiring U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II Plus Bureau Number 164560 fly in to spend the rest of its days in the Hickory Aviation Museum. 

The pilot, Lt. Col. John “Traper” Cumbie, flew alongside a two-seat Harrier and passed over the crowd three times before making his landing. 

The crowd sported earplugs, cameras, and phones as they awed over the aircrafts in the cloudy sky from the airport. From retired veterans to infants in parents’ arms, there was onlookers from all ages and walks of life. 

When it came time for its landing — the last one it would take — the Harrier jet was given a water salute by two Hickory Fire Department trucks. 

Exiting the retired jet, Cumbie walked over to the City of Hickory Mayor Hank Guess and firmly shook his hand. 

Cumbie proceeded forward to the microphone and told the crowd that being the person to hand over the jet was an honor and privilege. He then invited the public to get a closer, personal look at the aircraft and ask questions of himself and fellow Marine Corps members. 

“What a privilege and an honor to fly in a piece of history for the Marine Corps and North Carolina,” Cumbie said. “The aircraft was delivered to North Carolina over 30 years ago. To be able to retire it here at the Hickory Aviation Museum so that generations of North Carolinians and folks in Hickory and surrounding areas can appreciate it and learn about it … it’s pretty special.” 

ONE OF A KIND

The AV-8B Harrier jet is a big part of aviation history in North Carolina, with its operations out of Marine Corps Air State Cherry Point for nearly five decades, retired Navy Lt. Commander and HAM volunteer Bill Baker said.  

The Harriers are being replaced with the new F-35B “Lighting” for close air support for troops. 

“With this version of the Harrier, it is the only one in the country that has been retired. The Harriers are being phased out and being replaced," Baker said. "We are very lucky to get this aircraft. It is a combination of about three years of coordination between the National Naval Aviation Museum, who patrol all the airplanes, and the Marine Corps, and us trying to get everything in place.”

Baker said that growing their museum with aircrafts brings everyone together, especially former military who either flew or worked on the aircrafts. 

The jets on display are typically deconstructed and then brought into the museum; however, this jet was in great condition to fly in for crowds to see. The jet has been demilitarized and will be on display in a hangar since it is in beautiful condition. 

NEW MUSEUM BUILDING

A new museum building/hangar is under construction at the Hickory Regional Airport. The museum will house the aircraft artifacts, including the Harrier jet delivered on July 15.

“As you can see, the aviation museum has quite a unique collection of military aircrafts and obviously, as a great addition to the aircraft they already have, we are excited,” Guess said.

Partnering with Catawba Valley Community College, the building will also feature a state-of-the-art Workforce Innovation Center. 

The official groundbreaking was in October 2023, and the structure is starting to take shape, Baker said. He hopes that the museum will be open toward the summer 2025, but time will tell as multiple factors impact opening day. 

The new museum and a new jet is not the only big news in aviation realm in Hickory. 

“We are getting ready to open up what we call the ‘Aviation Walk,’” Guess said. “It connects to our River and our City Walk. It’s about economic development, but it is also about destinations. This is certainly a destination.” 

The 10.5-mile walk opens Tuesday, July 30. The walk stretches from the Lenoir-Rhyne University, L.P. Frans Stadium, the Hickory campus of Appalachian State University, and up to the aviation museum.