Photo By Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom | U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. David Harris, an AV-8B Harrier replacement pilot with Marine...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - With his initial flight takeoff only an hour away, 1st Lt. David Harris, an AV-8B Harrier replacement pilot with Marine Attack Training Squadron 203, prepared himself for his first solo flight in a single-seat aircraft, June 17.
“I have been waiting for this chance for a long time,” said Harris. “I worked on Harriers as a corporal and a sergeant, and I dreamt of unchaining this beast and letting it soar with me in control.”
Harris had orders to the drill field when he received word that his second attempt at getting into the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program worked.
“I got orders to drill instructor school and in the same week I was getting cut orders to MECEP and I knew then I was one step closer to flying,” said Harris.
Harris finished school and then received orders to fly his aircraft of choice, which reunited him with an old friend from a former unit.
“I was Harris’ staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge when he was a corporal in Yuma, Az.,” said Gunnery Sgt. Mitchell Leblanc, a quality assurance representative with VMAT-203. “I was just completely shocked when I came to Cherry Point and a few months later Lt. Harris was checking into VMAT-203.”
The old friends got to know each other again as Harris learned to fly the very aircraft he first worked on as a corporal.
Harris said the hardest part of training for his first flight was learning to fly the Harrier, but he had his former mentor there for support.
Leblanc had the honor of sending off Harris on his first solo flight.
“It is a great and incredible feeling of pride I have right now,” said Leblanc. “I get to send off a friend who I have mentored for years on his first Harrier flight. As a sergeant and corporal Harris was the hardest worker even when he was told he was headed to MECEP. He never quit working hard.”
According to Leblanc, through dedication and hard work anyone can go from working on an aircraft to flying it, just like Harris.
“You can see it in his eyes and his heart this is where he belongs,” said Leblanc, “Harrier aviation.”
| Date Taken: | 06.17.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2010 13:28 |
| Story ID: | 52765 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 78 |
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