Flying high into the sun

By Nate Delesline III

Published: October 11, 2008

An earth-shaking roar marked the debut of the world’s only civilian-owned Harrier at Culpeper’s ninth-annual AirFest Saturday.

In the cockpit, Art Nalls, a former Marine Corps pilot, showed off some of the capabilities of the BAE Sea Harrier FA2.

More than 4,000 people attended the free annual aviation showcase at Culpeper Regional Airport, said County Administrator Frank Bossio.

Also known as jump jets, Harrier aircraft are best known for their ability to perform short vertical takeoffs and landings. Introduced in the late 1960s, variations of this military aircraft are still used today by American, British and Spanish forces.

The Harrier didn’t perform a full hover due to fears the downward directed jet blast might damage the airport’s asphalt runway and taxiways. Nevertheless, Nalls quickly had the crowd’s attention with another one of the jet’s signature moves, a very short takeoff.

Sitting on the airport’s 5,000-foot runway, the Harrier shot from the surface to the sky in about 300 feet, disappearing into horizon.

Minutes later, the jet returned, passing by the crowd at 537 knots —more than 600 miles per hour.

“Notice how the sound is following the jet,” said Bossio, who along with a handful of others, narrated Saturday’s show.

Nalls wound up his demo by coming to a “near hover” then performing a 360-degree turn, then a figure eight turn, before gently returning back to earth. A regular at the Culpeper show in his L39 training jet, Nalls said he was more than happy to make Culpeper the first stop after spending the last few years restoring the retired British jet.

“It went great,” said Nalls after climbing out of the cockpit. “My first flight in the airplane, I fell in love,” he said.

Bob Hanson, who shares the Maryland airport where the Harrier is based, said he was delighted to finally see it in the sky too.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Hanson. David Remer of Fairfax, who said Saturday was his third time at Culpeper’s air show, agreed.

“It’s crazy. I have not seen a Harrier before,” he said, adding that he’d like to get his pilot’s license. An Oct. 18 air show in Georgetown, Del. is the Harrier’s next scheduled appearance.

The jump jet’s 15-minute flight capped a day that saw dozens of other unique and historic aircraft in the sky, including nearly 20 vintage World War II planes flying in formations.

“I like these T-6s,” said Ethan Stanley. “My grandfather always talked about them,” he said as he joined the crowd in following several of the planes into the sun, with everyone shielding their eyes in unison.

Dozens of other planes were also on display on the ground, including Ronald Gatewood’s Eclipse 500, a small six-seat business jet. The head of Midland-based SkyWorld Aviation, Gatewood said Culpeper is one of his favorite stops.

“We always come to the Culpeper air show,” he said as a line of kids waited to squeeze into the cockpit. “It’s getting bigger and better every year.”

Earlier this year, the slumping economy and a tight county budget forced officials to consider canceling the air show, but Bossio said the fact that corporate and private donations came in anyway shows that residents value the event.

“We’re very, very happy,” he said. “I’m proud of our community for coming forward.”

Nate Delesline III can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or .