Story and photo by Cpl. James B. Hoke
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
AL ASAD — The electronics and wiring inside the Marine Corps' AV-8B Harrier is a little more complicated than your average household light switch, and being so, the aircraft requires a group of professional Marines, specifically trained to manage the avionics in the jet.
The avionics Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), are responsible for all of the electrical systems in the Harriers flying at Al Asad, Iraq."
Our primary mission is to basically have all of the aircraft up and flying," said Cpl. John M. Ortega, avionics technician, VMA-211. "The grunts depend on our air support, so our main mission is to have fully mission-capable aircraft at all times."
The Marines with the avionics section work on nearly all parts of the aircraft, as the wiring is run throughout the plane. From electronics and communications to navigations and radar, these Marines spend 12 hours each day accomplishing their mission so that others can accomplish theirs.
"We give the aircraft a pulse," said Sgt. Ronald A. Rorie, avionics technician supervisor, VMA-211. Read the Rest...
(Photo: Lance Cpl. Jeffrey A. Peters (left) and Lance Cpl. Kyle J. Kaufmann troubleshoot the navigation systems on an AV-8B Harrier at Al Asad, Iraq, Dec. 5.)
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