There's a Friend of mine, His Name is Jack Jackson. Jack is the Cheif AV-8B Test Pilot for Boeing. He was one of the Inital Cadre Test Pilots testing the AV-8A Harrier for the USMC in 1971. He has over 25,000 Hours in Type.
He related to Me that Landing and Taking Off with the Harrier required "Practice, Practice, Practice". Marine Pilots not assigned Training Sorties, were assigned TPQ Sorties Practicing Landings and Take Off's and of all Modes. Also, MAF Bouge Field, NC is an Axiliary Air Field that has a Layout of an LHA painted on the Runway. It also has a Ski Jump Ramp. Marine Pilots Train Landings and Take Off's on a daily basis. There was also Lyman Road at Camp Lejune. It's a Two Lane Road that is three Miles long. It has Marston Mat Pull-Off's for servicing.
Jack said, "In the old Days, We didn't have a Two Seater to Train with. So We had a Guy in a Pick Up Truck and a Radio had to chase You around." He went on to say," If the call came in, "Throw Your Wallet Out!", You knew You'd better do something. You were in Trouble. You'd better Punch Out."
I started working on Harriers in 1979 and didn't stop until My Retirment in 1992. While at MCAS Cherry Point, In Harrier Units, The Base became the busy-ist Air Facility in the World. Harriers were Landing Day and Night at a average of one per half Second, depending on Weather, Of course. That's the Main Runway. Hover Pad. Plus We had one EA-6B Squadron. Two A-6E Squadrons. Two KC-130 Squadrons, one A-4M Squadron and Two H&MS Squadrons operating OA-4M's. And there were the visiting Units that came from all branches of Services and from around the World. And the Naval Rework Facility that were Re-Working Phantoms and C-130's.
The Harrier, either AV-8A or AV-8B takes alot of Practice to Operate. The very Best of Marine Aviators get the Assignment.
Semper Fi!
331KillerBee