EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018: Tactical Flight Operations - Super Hornet and Growler

By Fred Harl

The Aero Experience continues our coverage of tactical flight operations at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 with a look at the Boeing Super Hornets and Growlers we saw in the staging area (and on display in our previous post on Boeing Plaza).  The Super Hornets are from VFA-32 Swordsmen, based at NAS Oceana, VA. The squadron history dates back to February of 1945, flying the Grumman Hellcat in World War II. The squadron has participated in all major combat operations since then. The Growlers are from VX-9, based at China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, and participate in the evaluation of weapons and tactics over the vast Mojave Desert. Here we have the crews preparing to depart the staging area.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016: A Swarm of Hornets on the Sidelines

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience introductory coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 continues with a photo essay covering visiting Hornet, Super Hornet and Growler jets that were kept away from public access over the last weekend of our coverage.  They were in addition to the Super Hornet Demonstration Team and static display aircraft seen in Boeing Centennial Plaza, arriving on Friday and departing on Sunday during the final airshow.  We were pleased to capture these images of the three main St. Louis-made Hornet models still in service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in our salute to those who flew them in the Gulf War, Iraq and all theaters of the continuing War on Terror.  

F/A-18C Hornet from VFA-83 "Rampagers" based at NAS Oceana, VA

EA-18G Growler from VAQ-132 "Scorpions" based at NAS Whidbey Island, WA

F/A-18E Super Hornets from VF-87 "War Party" based at NAS Oceana, VA