{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Behind the Wings","title":"The Last Marine Corps Harrier — Episode 81","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":5207,"description":"Major Eric “Porky” Scheibe flew more than 2,087 hours in the AV-8B Harrier II. Now he reflects on the aircraft’s final Marine Corps flight and the people who made its missions possible.\nIn this episode, Host Rick Crandall talks with Scheibe about flying the “jump jet,” supporting Marines on the ground, and helping close the Marine Corps’ last operational Harrier squadron, VMA-223. From his first hover at Cherry Point to night landings aboard amphibious assault ships, Scheibe shares what it took to fly and maintain this unusual aircraft. This one is going to be cool!\nWhat you’ll hear:\nThe final Harrier flight: Why Scheibe had to keep his eyes on the lead aircraft as thousands watched the June 2026 sundown ceremony.\nLearning to hover: What it felt like to slow a jet until its wings were no longer providing normal lift.\nWhy short takeoffs mattered: How a rolling takeoff let the Harrier carry more fuel and weapons than a vertical launch.\nClose air support in Afghanistan: The mission that became personal when Scheibe met the Marines he had helped from the air.\nFlying from amphibious ships: How wind, aircraft weight, fuel, and deck schedules shaped every launch and recovery.\nLanding at night: The concentration required to bring a Harrier down vertically on a moving ship.\nThe people behind every flight: The trust between pilots, maintainers, plane captains, and flight deck crews.\nThe Bulldogs’ next chapter: What VMA-223’s Harrier legacy can carry into its planned transition to the F-35B.\nLearn More:\nRead about the AV-8B Harrier II+ at Wings Over the Rockies\nRead the Marine Corps account of the Harrier sundown\nDonate to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum\nExplore more Behind the Wings episodes\nSubscribe and leave a review to support the show","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/sRmrC6FuoNH3pWa6rkZLjBH-8M0Unad9ARZWGqJnqyY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzMxNDU0LzE2NTQy/MDAwNjgtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}