Denver’s Wings Over the Rockies Museum has welcomed an iconic slice of aviation history with the arrival of the McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier II+ as the newest —and perhaps most unique—addition to its growing permanent collection.

The now-retired “jump jet,” as the aircraft is known among those in aviation circles, arrived first at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora in mid-June and was demilitarized, and its wing assembly removed so it could be trucked to the museum.

“The aircraft does a couple of different things for us,” explained Stewart Bailey, Wings Over the Rockies museum curator. “It provides us with an airplane that is really unique in aviation history, and it adds balance to our collection – so we’re not just all Air Force stuff.”

The U.S. Marine Corp. began phasing out the Harrier in 2012, after the introduction of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II. The Harrier distinguishes itself as the first vertical/short take-off and landing aircraft to enter service with the U.S. military. Its ability to operate from austere locations – roads, damaged runways, and small vessels – coupled with its capacity to deploy a wide array of precision ordnance, made it an invaluable asset.

Department of Defense officials expect the phase-out to be complete before 2027.

A number of the retiring aircraft have been earmarked for new homes as museum and public exhibits across the country.

The general public became most familiar with the aircraft after its appearance in the popular 1994 film “True Lies” by James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. 

USMC Bureau Number 16558, last stationed at Cherry Point, N.C., was built in 1987 by McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft, now Boeing, and has the third-highest number of combat hours of any Harrier in the Marine Corps, Bailey said.

“This (aircraft) has 386 combat flights in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and against the Houthis rebels in the Red Sea as late as last year.

The exhibit opens to the public on Friday at the Wings’ Lowry Campus, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver, CO 80230.

The museum is also hosting two “open-cockpit” days on Aug. 9 and Aug. 16 for those hoping to get a peek inside.

Bailey added that Buckley SFB was selected for the Harrier’s arrival due to its close proximity to Wings Over the Rockies and its capability to accommodate fighter aircraft.

Service members from the 460th Logistics Readiness Squadron and the 140th Wing assisted the U.S. Marine Corps with logistics and the demilitarization process, ensuring the Harrier is ready for public display.

For more information and ticket prices, visit the Wings Over the Rockies website at www.wingsmuseum.org or call 303-360-5360.