End of An Era - F/A-18 A/B

END OF AN ERA -

F/A-18 A/B CLASSIC HORNET

The first RAAF Hornet, A21-101, makes its first public appearance at the McAir plant at St Louis on October 29, 1983.

1984

The first RAAF Hornets to arrive in Australia. Partially disassembled A21-103 and A21-104 are flown inside a USAF C-5 Galaxy from St Louis, Missouri, arriving at Avalon, Victoria, on June 6, 1984.

1985

Assembled in Australia, the A21 103 is rolled out by by Government Aircraft Factories, Avalon, Victoria. A21-103 makes its first flight at Avalon on February 26 in the hands of McAir test pilot Rudi Haug. Air Force accepts A21-103 on April 30. It is formally handed over on May 4 and delivered to 2OCU at RAAF Base Williamtown on May 17. The first 14 aircraft were all allocated to 2OCU to enable the commencement of Hornet instructor training. Two aircraft, A21-101 and A21-102, are ferried in a non-stop, recordbreaking trans-Pacific, 15-hour flight on May 17. The 12,360km flight from US Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, to RAAF Base Williamtown, is made possible by in-flight refuelling from USAF KC-10 tankers. The flight is led by by 2OCU CO WGCDR Brian Robinson.

CO 75SQN WGCDR Ross Fox is killed in a mid-air collision between two F/A18 Hornets 40km northwest of RAAF Base Tindal on August 2.

2002

Hornets provide air defence for several high-profile events in Australia since the September 11 attacks. Hornets patrol over the CHOGM at Coolum Beach, Queensland. It is the first time RAAF aircraft have flown air defence sorties over Australia since WWII. A detachment of Hornets patrol over Canberra during US President George W. Bush’s visit in October. The first operational deployment of RAAF Hornets takes place from November 2001 to May 2002 under Operation Slipper. Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Australian Government agrees to deploy F/A-18s to protect the major USAF air base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, which is used to mount operations in Afghanistan. Four 77SQN Hornets and 70 personnel depart for the island on November 9. 3SQN pilots and ground crew relieve the 77SQN personnel in early February 2002. The detachment returns to Australia on May 21, 2002.

2003

In February, 14 Hornets from 75SQN are deployed to Iraq under Operation Falconer as part of Australia’s contribution to the war on terror. It is the first operational deployment of Australian fighters since the Korean War and the Hornets peform above expectations. On March 21, F/A-18A Hornet A21-022 drops a Mk 82 GBU-12 500lb bomb, the first bomb dropped by the RAAF in combat since the Vietnam War and the first dropped by an RAAF fighter aircraft since the Korean War. On April 12, five RAAF F/A-18A Hornets fly close air support profiles in direct support of the Australian Army’s SAS Regiment for the first time since the Vietnam War. Air Force celebrates 20 years of successful F/A-18 Hornet operations. A21-026 is painted in celebratory ‘Year of the Hornet’ anniversary paint scheme.

Hornets patrol over Sydney during the September APEC leaders meeting.

2011

Eight Hornets are deployed from RAAF Base Williamtown to RAAF Base Pearce in October to protect the CHOGM meeting in nearby Perth. Hornets operate over Canberra and Darwin during a visit by US President Barack Obama.

2014

F/A-18 Hornets launch close air support missions from RAAF Base Amberley in support of the G20 Leaders Summit in Brisbane.

An F/A-18A Hornet takes on a Formula One demonstration car and driver, Daniel Ricciardo, at RAAF Base East Sale as part of a Defence Force recruiting campaign. One of the largest line-ups of F/A18A/B Hornets to taxi at one time, takes place at RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Pitch Black.

2015

By the end of the operation, they have flown 1937 missions, equalling 14,780 flying hours and delivering about 1600 munitions. All four ACG aircraft come together near RAAF Base Williamtown to demonstrate Australia’s air combat capability; the PC-9, Hawk-127, F/A18A Hornet and F/A-18F Super Hornet. CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Brown and the Worimi people launch the Worimi jet.

2017

3SQN bids farewell to the Hornet with a formation flight before transitioning to the F-35A. It is the first squadron to make the transition.

2019

The Final F/A-18A/B Hornet flight under the 2OCU banner takes place in December before all Hornet conversion training ceases.

2020

77SQN ceases Hornet operations in December and transitions to the F-35A Lightning II in January 2021.

2021

After 35 years serving Australia, the F/A18A/B Hornet is officially farewelled during a ceremony at RAAF Base Williamtown. The last 75SQN Hornets from RAAF Base Tindal are shut down at RAAF Base Williamtown. Courtesy of Air Force News Defence images.