Bring In Da NOISE!

A loud and proud crowd favorite will return to the grounds at Wittman Field. The US Marine Corps AV-8B "Harrier II" jump jet will appear at EAA AirVenture 2008, making demonstration flights during the EAA's 56th annual fly-in, scheduled for July 28-August 3 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

The Harrier is scheduled to arrive on Monday, July 28, and depart following the daily air show on Wednesday, July 30. It will perform its ever-popular flight demonstrations during the EAA AirVenture air shows on July 28-30. (Note to anyone within about a 1/4-mile radius of show center: bring earplugs... or not, since the noise is part of the fun -- Ed.)

The AV-8B Harrier II is designed for combat air support, as well as combat air patrol, missions against ground defenses and armed escort. The single-seat fighter is 46 feet long with a wingspan of 30 feet. It can reach transonic speeds and has radar systems similar to those found in F/A-18 fighter jets.

The Marines first deployed the Harrier II in 1985, with the upgraded AV-8BII Plus model introduced in 1993. The aircraft is the latest descendant of the original British Harrier jump jet that first appeared in the early 1960s.

FMI: www.airventure.org, www.eaa.org