On June 28, 2024, the Hickory Aviation Museum (HAM) at Hickory Regional Airport (HKY) in Hickory, North Carolina announced that it had been chosen to receive a McDonnell Douglas AV-8B+ Harrier II. The aircraft will be flown into Hickory Regional on Monday, July 15, depending on the weather and operational needs of the Marine Corps. The jet is based at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina thanks to the assistance of the Marine Corps and National Naval Aviation Museum the famed “Jump Jet” will be part of the ever-growing collection of aircraft on exhibit at the Hickory Aviation Museum.
According to Joe Baugher’s data, the aircraft BuNo 164560 was delivered to the Marine Corps in May 1994 and assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 231 (VMA-231) Ace of Spades at Cherry Point. By 1997 it had been transferred to the co-located VMA-542 Tigers at Cherry Point, but returned to the Ace of Spades in February 2003 in time for a four-month combat deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The jet was still with VMA-231 when the squadron once again deployed to Iraq from March to September 2007, but when the squadron returned to the states, ‘560 was transferred to the Tigers and remained in Iraq until April 2008. By 2010 the plane was assigned to VMA-223 Bulldogs, also at Cherry Point. In April/May 2021, the aircraft embarked with VMM-162(R) YS-52 aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7).
On October 26, 2023 leaders from the City of Hickory, Hickory Aviation Museum, and Catawba Valley Community College gathered at HKY to officially break ground on the construction of a new facility, where aviation and education will come together. The City of Hickory is partnering with the Sabre Society of North Carolina/Hickory Aviation Museum and Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) to construct a building to house the museum’s vintage military aircraft, preserve aviation history, and provide STEM education and workforce development opportunities.
Visit www.elevatehky.com for more information about this project and how to support the Hickory Aviation Museum by making a tax-deductible contribution.
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Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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