Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA2629
AV-8B Harrier II Plus 165421, VMA-214 "Black Sheep", USMC, Afghanistan, November 2009
 
General Background
The Harrier is the first operational V/STOL (Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft. By directing the engines exhaust through movable nozzles the force could be used to propel the aircraft along a runway or lift it vertically and then into a forward motion. Because of this ability to lift off vertically the Harriers began to be referred to as “jump jets”. These aircraft were continuously being refined and improved over the years with many new variants being produced.
 
The Aircraft
Marine Squadron 214 was commissioned in 1942 as the “Swashbucklers”. On September 7, 1943 VMF-214 was formed under the guidance of Major “Pappy” Boyington and given the name “Black Sheep”. Back then the squadron was equipped with Corsairs. In 1957 the VMF was changed to VMA-214. In 2000, using the wings and tail from AV-8B 162731 as well as a new fuselage and engine they created AV-8B Harrier II+ 165421. In 2009 the “Black Sheep” were deployed to Kandahar from May until November.