EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2012: U.S. Navy F/A-18C Hornet East Coast Demo Team

By Fred Harl

Another U.S. Navy aircraft that will not be seen at airshows the rest of this year is the F/A-18C Hornet from VFA-106 Gladiators, the East Coast Hornet Demo Team.  The legacy Hornet puts on an excellent show - converting lots of jet fuel into aerial power - heavy on the burners for those ground-shaking low passes and tight turns.  The approach and bolter takeoff maneuver is especially unique to the Hornet.  The squadron can now focus on its regular mission of training new Hornet pilots for nine months before assigning them to fleet squadrons.  For all of us who will miss the Hornet demo this year, here is a flashback to last year's performance: