𝗧𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘁-𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗩-𝟴𝗕 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 is proud to announce the upcoming arrival of a combat-tested 𝗔𝗩-𝟴𝗕 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗜 , a major addition to the Museum’s growing collection of historically significant aircraft. The aircraft will be flown directly to Tillamook from Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, a major U.S. Navy research, development, and test facility located in California’s Mojave Desert.
The Harrier’s arrival under its own power will be a rare and historic moment for the region, offering the public a unique opportunity to witness military aviation history in motion. In addition to the Harrier, a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster lll will also be flying into Tillamook, transporting the demilitarization crew responsible for preparing the aircraft for public display. The Museum currently anticipates the Harrier and C-17 will arrive on 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟰𝘁𝗵, 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 . We encourage the public to follow our social media for the latest updates as the date approaches!

After arrival, the aircraft will be demilitarized and prepared for permanent exhibition. It is being provided on long-term loan by the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.
“This aircraft represents an extraordinary chapter in modern military aviation,” said Christian Gurling, Museum Curator. “We are proud to accept this historic piece of Marine Corps history. Acquisitions such as this are fast positioning the Tillamook Air Museum as a world-class destination for aviation heritage, as we continue to broaden and enhance the scope of our exhibits. We look forward to interpreting its legacy for the public in a way that honors its service and the people who flew it.”
Originally delivered to the United States Marine Corps on March 30, 1995, the Harrier has logged 5,518 total flight hours, including 631 combat hours flown across 88 missions, and completed 5,457 landings. It saw combat in multiple theaters over its 30 year career, including missions during Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria, where it flew from both USS Boxer and forward air bases such as Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. It also supported humanitarian and combat operations from the USS Peleliu, USS Nassau, and USS America, including roles in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, and the Arabian Gulf. In one deployment, its unit provided aerial support following the collision of the USS John S. McCain near Singapore.
This particular aircraft is a production radar model, built as a Harrier II+, meaning it was originally designed for frontline service with enhanced capabilities. In addition to its fleet combat role, it concluded its career with VX-31 at China Lake, where it served as a test platform supporting developmental and evaluation programs.
“We are honored to welcome this distinguished aircraft to Tillamook,” said Rita Welch, Museum Director of the Tillamook Air Museum. “The arrival of a combat-tested Harrier flown directly from China Lake is a momentous occasion and one of the most significant acquisitions in the museum’s history. This aircraft greatly enhances our collection and strengthens our ability to educate the public about military aviation. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Bonnie Towne at the National Naval Aviation Museum for her dedication and hard work in facilitating this loan. Her efforts were critical in making this historic transfer possible. We are honored to care for this remarkable piece of history and look forward to sharing its story with our visitors.”
The Museum also extends its sincere thanks to Pablo “Louie” Sanchez, AV-8B Assistant Program Manager for Logistics (APML), who is leading the AV-8B Museum Task Force. His expertise and outstanding coordination have been essential in arranging the upcoming transfer of the Harrier to Tillamook. The Museum also gratefully acknowledges the efforts of his entire team, whose collective support has been vital in bringing this significant addition to the museum’s collection closer to reality.
The Museum would also like to give a special thanks to Visit Tillamook Coast for helping to assist in secure lodging for the Harrier’s demilitarization crew and Tillamook Inn & Suites for hosting them while they are in Tillamook!

For more information about the many historic aircraft and displays at the Tillamook Air Museum go to www.tillamookair.com