This is a F/A-18C-27 Lot 11 ordered in US FY87. The Hornet was delivered on 17 February 1989 and started its career with the USMC as WD-13 with VMFA-212, was transferred as WT-06 to VMFA-232 (Feb 91), DB-15 VMFA-235 (Mar 93), WT-11 VMFA-232 (Sep 93), WD-04 VMFA-212 (Mar 95), DB-10 VMFA-235 (Jul 95), WT-07 VMFA-232 (Jan 96), WD-01 VMFA-212 (Jun 96), WT-01 VMFA-232 (Feb 02), and then swapped to the US Navy AB-410 VFA-86 (Feb 03), AB-304 VFA-136 (Feb 06), NJ-302 VFA-125 (Aug 08), VFA-122(by Jul 11), as eventually coded 25 with VFA-122 in a 100 years navy c/s (Apr 11). Since January 2014 stored at Davis-M.

w/o 18 July 1977 when with VFP-63 Det 5.

A F/A-18C-28 ordered in US FY87. The aircraft first flew with the USMC as DB-05 with VMFA-235 (dec89), then WT-05 VMFA-232 (aug93), WT-07 VMFA-232 (oct94), WD-11 VMFA-212 (mar95), DB-15 VMFA-235 (sep95), no marks feb96, WT-14 VMFA-232 (mar96), WD-04 VMFA-212 (aug96), WD-12 VMFA-212 (apr01), WD-212 VMFA-212 (may04), VE-215 VMFA-115 (jan06), DR-209 VMFA-312 (aug06), seen as RK-06 NADep North Island (CA) (oct06) and transferred to the US Navy as AB-312 VFA-136 (jul07) and AD-324 VFA-106 (sep08). Since March 2014 stored as such as 309th AMARG at Davis Monthan (AZ).

Being prepared for a launch from catapult number three, this Strike Fighter squadron 136 Knighthawks legacy Hornet shows some serious precision guided bombs under its wings.

There is less space in the huge hangar deck. A part is reserved for parking aircraft during bad weather conditions and another part is dedicated for maintenance. Especially that part is packed as can be seen on this 24mm picture of a EA-6B in maintenance. The Prowler is stored at the 309th AMARG at Davis Monthan since July 2014.

A Rooks Prowler directed by a yellow shirt to the cat/launch position

Typical example of a hangar queen. The Super Hornet suffered some technical issues during the deployment that could be resolved on board. So the aircraft was partly cannibalized to keep sister ships alive. As can be seen, the radar, the fin tip launch rails and a hinge of the vertical stabilizer was removed

In open storage on the National Museum of Naval Aviation's restoration ramp.

BEEF 302 F/A-18C on short final to runway 24R

Operating a small det from NAF El Centro, a VFC-13 F-5N is caught departing off runway 26

From USS Midway. Photographer: Hideki Nagakubo

Photographer: Nick Williams.

Went to the Hellenic Air Force around 1993. Stored at Araxos from 2014.

Went to the Hellenic Air Force in 1993. Stored at Araxos from 2014.

This nice camo bird of VFA-125 'Rough Raiders' is seen returning to base from the ranges.