
FPP211 - The Last Harrier: Inside the Final AV-8B Squadron
From Fighter Pilot Podcast by E. Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello, Retired U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot
April 6, 2026 · 1h 14m · Episode 211
About this episode
This episode features a discussion with the commanding and executive officers of the last AV-8B Harrier squadron about the aircraft's legacy and mission.
The AV-8B Harrier is one of the most demanding, iconic, and battle-proven aircraft in military aviation history. Now, as the Harrier era draws to a close, one squadron remains to carry the torch: VMA-223, the Great American Bulldogs. In this episode, Cinco sits down with the commanding officer (Traper) and executive officer (Porky) of the last AV-8B Harrier squadron to talk about the jet, the mission, the culture, and what it means to write the final chapter of an extraordinary community. This is a conversation about legacy, leadership, and the kind of airplane that shaped the aviators who flew it. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations
People in this episode
Host: E. Vincent "Jell-O" Aiello
Guests: Traper, Porky
Topics covered
- military aviation
- Harrier aircraft
- squadron culture
- leadership
- legacy
Keywords
- AV-8B Harrier
- military aviation
- VMA-223
- squadron
- leadership
- legacy
- aircraft
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: VMA-223
Products: AV-8B Harrier
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