This is a F/A-18F Block 54 of the LOw Rate Initial Production 3, ordered in FY99. It was delivered to the US Navy in Jul'01 and started to serve VX-9 (with modex 511). In mid-2003, the Rhino was transferred to VFA-102 (modex 104) and then in Jan'04 to VFA-122 (NJ-132). in early 2005, transferred to VFA-211 (AB-211), then in mid-2008 to VFA-122 (AB-111). in Mar'09 it started to serve the NSAWC (12), received modex 104 by Feb'11. The NSAWC became NAWDC and the Hornet kept the same modex. Then in mid-2023 the F/A-18F was selected for the Blue Angels, and was repainted in the blue demo colours.

The information board alongside this nose section describes it as an F-8J. If that is correct, it may come from one of the F-8J airframes acquired by France for spares, circa 1990.

On Board the HMCS Bonaventure, DND photo.

Morton Air Academy was contracted to train United States Army Air Forces flying cadets during World War II. "A.A.F.C.S. Blythe" in the badge indicates Army Air Forces Contract Service at Blythe Field, California. This PT-13D Kaydet biplane was registered to Sky West Aviation Inc. (Albuquerque, NM) on 26 August 2024, but it crashed near Nettersheim, Germany on 30 August 2024. One occupant died in the crash, another was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. Unconfirmed information suggests that it struck a wind turbine in poor visibility conditions.

Morton Air Academy was contracted to train United States Army Air Forces flying cadets during World War II. "A.A.F.C.S. Blythe" in the badge indicates Army Air Forces Contract Service at Blythe Field, California. This PT-13D Kaydet biplane was registered to Sky West Aviation Inc. (Albuquerque, NM) on 26 August 2024, but it crashed near Nettersheim, Germany on 30 August 2024. One occupant died in the crash, another was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. Unconfirmed information suggests that it struck a wind turbine in poor visibility conditions.

VH-YCH was never an RAAF aircraft and the serial was not used by the RAAF. It was instead part of the Tamworth based BAe flying school.

Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati (GRUPAER), the Marina Militare unit operating Italy's Harriers from Grottaglie/Taranto, celebrated its 30th year in 2022. F-35Bs will soon replace the Harriers, several of the latter having been constructed by Alenia at Torino-Caselle. This example was FMS Bu 164564

To land r23. Photo taken from the 'pillbox'

Although the unit was already redesignated into the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC), this Super Hornet still carried the old Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) titles on its tail.

Former USMC 164564. To Italy as MM7200 in 1999. Stationed at Grottaglie.

Departing home after RIAT 2023.