F-18 Officially Retired

[Hans Tucker]

Probably not as sad as the F-111 retirement but sad none the least :sadeyes:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-29/royal-australian-air-force-farewells-classic-hornets/100658448

I loved being at the end of the runway at night during my time at Williamtown watching them take-off with full AB ... something like this

https://youtu.be/JTEdsVndIwk

[FlashDrive]

Yes ...saw that on the TV News last night.... another era over ...!!

[gregbradley]

I watched the F18 at last Sunday's airshow at Lake Illawarra also the first public appearance of the F35.

The F18 flew right over my boat at the end of the day. Like a formula 1 car buzzing past you.

The F35 may be stealth with radar but boy its engines roared louder than a thunderstorm. So much power.

Greg.

[Hans Tucker]

Yep .. so much that they had to modify the flight path (Approach and Departure) around Williamtown so as to not upset the locals.

[Culford]

Went up in a Hornet when I was a RAAF photographer; it was something never to forget.

[Zuts]

I thought they were keeping some of the recently upgraded ones for Northern air defense?

Also, I remember the night flyby at the Sydney Olympics when they flew over the stadium with the engines doing an afterburn...stunning!

[Hans Tucker]

The RAAF is retiring the F/A-18A/B Classic Hornet Fleet ... Amberley still operates the F/A-18F Super Hornet and the EA-18G Growler.

[houssamAstro]

Sad to hear :/

[Hans Tucker]

Image courtesy of the RAAF FB Page. Ok not a Hornet.

[FlashDrive]

Airshow I attended a few years ago....!!

[Hans Tucker]

If you are in the vicinity of RAAF Base Williamtown today. From the RAAF FB Page.

A single F/A-18A/B Classic Hornet, A21-117, is flying from RAAF Base Tindal to RAAF Base Williamtown today.
The final transit of the F/A-18 A/B Classic Hornet aircraft will be flown by Wing Commander Leon Cossins, the Commanding Officer of No. 75 Squadron.
The single jet will conduct a low initial and pitch over the Base and land between 2pm and 4pm.
This is the last flight for an F/A-18A/B Classic Hornet in Australia.

For those that will miss it or not in the area here is a tribute video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhe1UH_Pa5U

[Exfso]

I was lucky enough to fly in the FA18 simulator at RAAF Tindal in early 90's, that was a hoot. Then we went and got on the slops with the pilots at the mess. They laid it on for us that is for sure, and we stayed over night at the officers quarters. That was a couple of years before the Darwin Flight Service unit shut down. A fellow FSO and I organised an overnight at Tindal, we were treated like royalty for some odd reason...

[Peter Ward]

A sad day indeed.

As for the new single engine toy.....can't say I'm a fan.

[strongmanmike]

Good bye F18's, so long and thanks for all the fish :hi:

My son is off to the tower at Tindal mid next year, he is sad he wont get to direct these old birds.

Mike

[Hans Tucker]

Your Son is an ATC or JTAC? I thought he was a Pilot.

[strongmanmike]

Air Trafic Controller...formerly known as JBAC's :thumbsup:
Mike

[alpal]

I think we should have kept them in case we
get into a war with China -
they would be handy to have.