Phillips 66® Aviation to Power Sea Harrier Flights at 2010 Airventure Oshkosh
/The heart-pounding roar of the world's only privately owned and flown Sea Harrier fighter jet will be fueled by Phillips 66® Aviation when it screams over EAA’s 2010 AirVenture Oshkosh this summer.
The Harrier’s owner and pilot, retired Marine Lt. Col. Art Nalls, will fly demonstrations in his British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA2 during AirVenture week, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, July 29, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 31, and 2 p.m. Sunday, August 1. When not flying, Nalls’ Sea Harrier can also be seen at the event’s static display.
The jump jet – with its breathtaking ability to take off and land vertically – can climb at 50,000 feet-per-minute. Phillips 66 will be providing some 2,700 gallons of jet fuel for the Harrier during AirVenture, powering the violently loud Rolls-Royce Pegasus vectored thrust turbofan engines, which can rocket the airplane from zero to 100 mph in about 400 feet, according to Nalls.
“This airplane is a sports car,” Nalls said. “Right on takeoff, this airplane accelerates like you wouldn’t believe. It’s scary acceleration for a pilot who’s not used to the Harrier.”
The throngs that annually pack Oshkosh will see the Harrier run through a rich repertoire of moves including steep, 600-knot climbs, high-speed passes, vertical landings and takeoffs, sideways maneuvers, hovering and even a “dance move” or two, Nalls said. “That aircraft will get up and get it,” Nalls said. “After all, the Harrier was designed to shoot down enemy aircraft.”
The former Marine test pilot has logged flight time in some 65 different types of military and civilian aircraft. “By far, the Harrier is my favorite of all time,” he said.
The Harrier is so versatile, says Nalls, that one day he plans to try a Half-Cuban 8 on takeoff – a twisting aerobatic loop more common to small, darting racing planes.
At least the engines stay on for that maneuver. During his Marine test pilot days, Nalls racked up six hours aloft in single-engine jets – with the engine deliberately shut down. These air-start tests meant Nalls would shut down a jet’s only engine, then attempt to restart it once he reached a specific altitude and airspeed. Nalls became so adept at this dangerous, precision technique that he became an air-start instructor for the Marines.
While other Harriers have visited Oshkosh, it will be the first time a British Sea Harrier has been to the event – and Nalls said the differences were significant.
“The Sea Harrier is a fighter aircraft while the AV-8s were designed for air-to-ground and close air support,” he said. “The Sea Harrier FA2 is much faster.” It is also the second BAE Sea Harrier made and the oldest survivor still in action.
“We have tremendous plans over next year or two, with the potential to get another airplane or two for more shows,” Nalls said. “We are just happy Phillips 66 is giving us the opportunity to showcase this historic aircraft. Shows help raise awareness for general aviation, and that’s important for all these organizations that fight to preserve air space and pilots’ rights and help people find an avenue into this industry.
“I am very fortunate,” Nalls said. “There was a bunch of people who thought I was completely crazy. Then once I got the airplane they thought I was only partly crazy.”