Private Jet Causes Neighbors to Complain

CALIFORNIA - 9/25/2008

By Pete Hurrey

There is something different going on at Saint Mary’s Regional Airport. During the last two weekends – Sept. 14 and Sept. 21, a privately-owned FA2- Fighter Attack Sea Harrier Jet has been flying and causing a buzz among neighboring communities.

I

 
 Maintenance expert Rich Gill took 3 years to
 make the Sea Harrier flight-worthy.
t turns out that the jet is the only civilian-owned, flyable Harrier in the world. According to Rich Gill, flight mechanic that works with a team of up to 28 keeping the aircraft flight-worthy, “We have had a couple noise complaints forwarded to us” Gill wants to assure the surrounding neighbors that they are sensitive to the fact that this aircraft is loud. “We are in the process of “flying off” our FAA mandated restrictions, which is why we are flying in the local area. Once those restrictions are satisfied, we expect that our flying around the airport area and near any residential areas will be minimized.”

Gill indicated that Nalls Aviation is moving further flight times to the afternoon in order to keep from interrupting church services. “We have also modified our flight patterns to reduce the time directly overhead.”

“We would like to invite those that are interested to come out to the airport to talk to us directly or contact us on the internet at nallsaviation.com,” said Gill. “We are very proud of what we, local citizens of St. Mary’s County, have been able to accomplish. We are at the airport Saturdays and Sundays from about 10 am to 5 pm. Just ask anyone around how to get back to our hangar.”

The jet’s owner, Lt. Col. (USMC Ret.), Art Nalls, purchased the jet from the Royal Navy in England.

 
 Lt. Col. (USMC Ret.) Art Nalls loves to
 fly. He calls the Harrier the best he
 has ever flown.
According to Gill, “In the U.S., surplus military aircraft are sent to a ‘bone yard’ and scrapped before having aircraft parts sold. In England, the aircraft are sent to agents who are charged with scrapping the aircraft.” Gill indicated that once the Royal Navy delivered the aircraft to the agent, they were done and the agent was free to dispose of it any way they chose. “Art heard about the plane and bought it intact before it was scrapped.”

When asked how much had been paid for the plane, originally valued at about $20 million, Nalls laughed and said, “I do not answer that question. It was a lot, but I hope make it all back in airshows.”

Nalls indicated that the number one requested aircraft for the Marines is the Harrier, so he expects to be busy once the final FAA requirements are satisfied.

Because of circumstances surrounding the availability of the FAA, the planned final qualification flight on Sept. 28 has been postponed until the following weekend.

After all the qualification requirements are satisfied, the Harrier will be flown on a limited basis and only one takeoff and one landing instead of the multiple takeoffs and landings required as part of the process.