The AV-8B/+ Harrier II is the iconic “Jump Jet,” a single-engine subsonic attack aircraft capable of Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL). It evolved from the original Hawker Siddeley Harrier, with McDonnell Douglas taking the lead in developing the AV-8B variant for the United States Marine Corps. McDonnell Douglas, a foundational American aerospace manufacturer, produced the Harrier II airframes between 1981 and 2003, introducing the AV-8B into service in January 1985. A total of 337 airframes were manufactured, carrying on the aircraft’s crucial legacy.
Access solutions are indispensable for maintaining this powerful aircraft. Platforms such as the Reach Deck, Modular Stepover Platforms, and Super Trestle Scaffold are vital for thorough work on the fuselage and wing areas, including the AFT Bulkhead, rear avionics, and Wing Box area. Specialized stands like the Super Service Stand and Super Maintenance Platform provide access for work on the Engine Pylon components—such as the inlet, exhaust, fan, and compressor—as well as the Nose Avionics and Windshield and Cockpit sections. Narrow access solutions, like the A Frame Aviation Platform or Platform Ladder, address detailed maintenance tasks on the Tail Section (Empennage), including the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and Landing Gear components. The use of Cantilever Platforms can facilitate access to difficult areas like the Undercowl and various fuel access points in the Wing & Engine Pylon and Middle Fuselage.
