By Steve Green

Visitors traveling east on Highway 70 will soon be greeted by a bright, shiny A-4M Skyhawk jet pointing the way to Havelock’s new tourist center.

Thanks to the expert skills of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Depot Cherry Point artisans, the aircraft’s appearance was recently returned to like-new condition. NAVAIR Depot technicians demilitarized the A-4 for display by removing its ejection seat and other items and also meticulously restored the markings on the aircraft to those of Marine Attack Squadron 131, reportedly the last unit to fly the aircraft.

According to Jim Stuart, who works in the depot’s aircraft planning branch, the project culminates several months of planning and cooperative teamwork between the city of Havelock and depot officials. Stuart has overseen the A-4’s progress at the depot. The A-4 is the first of several retired military aircraft that will be displayed at the new tourist center. The other aircraft include an RF-4B Phantom and a Boeing F-4B-3, a replica of the 1930s vintage biplane.

Havelock officials contracted with the depot to do all the display preparation work for the first three aircraft. Additionally, the depot will provide limited preparations on a fourth aircraft, a Grumman F9F-6 Cougar, destined for the tourist center. Stuart noted, however, the depot was contracted only to make the plane moveable and transport it. Volunteers are expected to make the Cougar ready for public display.

Movement of the A-4 to its new home may cause traffic delays on Nov. 17 for motorists aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Highway 70 approximately from Slocum Road to the tourist center near the Hampton Inn. At approximately 6:30 a.m. on that date, NAVAIR Depot personnel will begin towing the A-4 to the tourist center.

According to Stuart, the aircraft will be moved from the air station following a route along the edge of Runway 14 to the point where it intersects with Roosevelt Boulevard. The aircraft will travel along Roosevelt Boulevard and then on Slocum Road to Highway 70. At approximately 7:30 a.m., a portion of Highway 70 will be reduced to two lanes as the aircraft is towed in the two eastbound lanes until exiting on the service road to the tourist center. The aircraft is expected to arrive at the center at 8:30 a.m.

Coordination and traffic control for the aircraft’s movement is a joint effort between the depot, the air station, and the city of Havelock.

NAVAIR Depot Cherry Point provides maintenance, engineering, and logistics support on a variety of aircraft, engines, and components for all branches of the U.S. armed forces. Employing almost 4,000 people, the depot is the only source of repair within the continental United States for many jet and rotary wing engines. It is the Navy’s center of excellence for rotary wing aircraft, providing engineering and logistics support for all Navy helicopters.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch, sensor data to precision targeting, aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment, and real-time communication to aircraft recovery, NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.