Naval Aviators and Boeing Test Pilots Celebrate 30th Anniversary of the Super Hornet

The National Museum of Transportation

By Carmelo Turdo

 celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Boeing Super Hornet first flight through a series of public events this summer and fall and following the dedication of their F/A-18E Super Hornet display back in August 2024. This aircraft, E1 BuNo 165164, was the first Super Hornet produced and was flown on November 29, 1995, by McDonnell Douglas test pilot Fred Madenwald. This jet was used for initial flight testing and later evaluated weapons mounts for the Kuwaiti Super Hornet transition program. It was eventually put in outdoor storage at Boeing St. Louis and is now on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL. 

Super Hornet Dedication with Vice Admiral Francis Morley

The museum hosted two events in October featuring military and Boeing test pilots with significant experience flying the Super Hornet. The Aero Experience continues our coverage of the Super Hornet 30th Anniversary with this pictorial review of both programs hosted by David Nelson, retired Boeing Flight Test Engineer.

F/A-18 Pilot Panel (October 11) 

 

Dave "Dez" Desmond's career spans over 40 years of flying tactical jets, including the Hornet, Harrier and Super Hornet. He became a private pilot at age eighteen and joined the U.S. Marine Corps through OCS in 1980. After pilot training, Desmond intentionally remained in the training command as a TA-4J Skyhawk instructor for a specific purpose: The Hornet was coming. In 1982, he was assigned to the first operational squadron and later turned down a Top Gun slot to leave the service and become a test pilot for McDonnell Douglas in 1985. He performed extensive tests on Super Hornet E3, gave hundreds of VIP and demo flights over the years, tested the radar-equipped Harrier, and led a quality improvement program that greatly reduced the number of production acceptance test flights per aircraft. He retired as Boeing's Tactical Chief Test Pilot in 2013. 

Elliott "Hemo" Clemence is U.S. Naval Academy graduate who flew combat missions in Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He flew Hornets in the Aggressor role and became a test pilot for Super Hornets. As a Navy test pilot, he served a test tour, combat tour and another test tour (rinse and repeat) to better integrate new systems into the fleet. Hemo's call sign was given to him after he canceled a flight for a nosebleed during his first squadron carrier qualification. The condition was caused by sleeping under a vent for 3 days, which dried out his nasal passages.  After thirteen years, he decided to leave the Navy and fly the T-50 and F-35A/B/C for Lockheed Martin before serving as Boeing's current Chief Test Pilot after Dave Desmond's retirement. 

Jason "Finch" Pattison is also a U.S. Naval Academy graduate. He scored number one on initial carrier qualification in the T-45C Goshawk and was given the choice of "the last Tomcat or the first Hornet." Pattison chose the Super Hornet. He served with VFA-102 aboard the USS Kitty Hawk during Operation Iraqi Freedom and also for tsunami relief from 2002-2004. After attending the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, he continued to do test work on the type for over a decade before joining Boeing Phantom Works in 2019. 

 

Top Gun (October 15)

Captain Kevin "Proton" McLaughlin, USN (Ret) is the former commander of the U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Program (formerly Fighter Weapons School), or Top Gun, and the Navy's advisor for the Top Gun: Maverick movie. He received his call sign from having served on nuclear submarines before transferring to aviation. Captain McLaughlin flew all models of the Hornet and Super Hornet family, with his last flight being in an F/A-18C legacy Hornet. 

Captain McLaughlin attended Top Gun in 1998, and served as instructor staff from 1998-2001. After serving in various command and staff positions, he returned to command Top Gun from 2012-2013. Preparations for filming the movie Top Gun: Maverick were underway back in 2012, and over the next decade McLaughlin would remain involved behind the scenes while performing his regular duties. The Super Hornets used in the movie were painted at NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach under his leadership.

The Aero Experience thanks The National Museum of Transportation and the participating guest speakers for making these two Super Hornet 30th Anniversary events a great success. We also thank the museum for expanding their aviation education programs and exhibits, and we look forward to visiting again in the coming year.

Super Hornet Jet Display Dedicated at National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis

By Carmelo Turdo

The National Museum of Transportation dedicated their newest aviation exhibit, an F/A-18E Super Hornet, on Saturday, August 3. This aircraft, E1 BuNo 165164, was the first Super Hornet produced. McDonnell Douglas test pilot Fred Madenwald made the inaugural flight from St. Louis-Lambert International Airport on November 29, 1995. It was used for initial flight testing and later tested weapons mounts for the Kuwaiti Super Hornet transition program. It was eventually put in outdoor storage at Boeing St. Louis and recently assigned to the museum on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL.  

(Jill Rempala photo)

As the crowd gathered and enjoyed some music prior to the ceremony, those in attendance who worked on the Super Hornet display posed for photos. Here we include keynote speaker Vice Admiral Francis Morley, who early in his career flew the first Super Hornet trap on an aircraft carrier, and a group of Boeing Volunteer Corps employees. 

The guest speakers for the dedication included representatives from the museum, Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas), the U.S. Navy and Missouri state political office. Here we feature some remarks from each speaker.  

Dr. Darryl Ross, President of the Board of Directors for the National Museum of Transportation, began his remarks by mentioning his roots with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. "I go back to Mr. Mac," Ross said, referring to James S. McDonnell, founder of McDonnell Aircraft and later Chairman of McDonnell Douglas Corporation. He thanked everyone involved with the project and introduced the next speaker, Missouri State Senator Tracy McCreery. 

"A safer America begins at home," she told the mostly Boeing employee crowd, "and that safety, that strength, has been built by the more than sixteen thousand Missourians who work at Boeing. As the largest manufacturer in the state, Boeing workers help drive Missouri's economic growth while keeping us safe, secure and free. Today's ceremony celebrates the rich history of not only the F/A-18 Program, but also the history of Missouri's entire aerospace industry which reaches more than three hundred and sixty suppliers across the state...It's an exciting time for this museum and for all of the Boeing employees who played a part in the building of this historic fighter jet."

Tim Bischof, Director of the National Museum of Transportation, was also the F/A-18E1 Flight Test Engineer from 1994-1999. "I was pretty excited because I was asked to be Flight Test Engineer on this airplane, the first Super Hornet," he recalled. He recently found out that the jet was at Boeing and ready for disposal, so he sought out old and new friends to help save it. Over a hundred volunteers helped to restore the aircraft for display once it was secured through the National Naval Aviation Museum and local resources. Along with Boeing, other partners included GE Aerospace, PPG Industries and Cowboy's Cranes.   

Mark Sears, Boeing VP/Program Manager for Fighter Programs, was instrumental to preserving E1. "The F-18 has a special place in my heart for sure," Sears remarked. "And to many of us, the F-18 is more than just a fighter jet, it's a representation of the pride, the grit, the determination and the hard-working spirit of our family, friends and of this community... And as a Boeing employee, I am honored to say that we continue to build on E1's legacy as we deliver the most advanced F-18, the Block Three Super Hornet, and we will continue to service and modify these jets for decades."

Sterling Gilliam, Captain, USN (Ret.) is the Director of the National Naval Aviation Museum, the custodian of the over 950 retired U.S. Navy aircraft on display throughout the world. On Saturday, Super Hornet E1 was added to the display list. "E1 just didn't show up," he told the audience after stressing the need for teamwork. "There was a lot of hard work - Boeing, NAVAIR, PMA-265, OPNAV, Naval History and Heritage Command, my museum, your museum and most importantly, the hundreds and hundreds of volunteers that dedicated their time to make this reality, make this country a better place." 

Vice Admiral Francis Morley, Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition), was the keynote speaker. The first carrier landing of a Super Hornet was made by then Lt. Morley in F/A-18F1 on January 18, 1997. On Saturday, he dedicated Super Hornet E1 as the last duty mission of his U.S. Navy career. After reviewing his portfolio of Naval Aviation programs, Vice Admiral Morley had this to say about the Hornet family of combat aircraft:

"Let me say that this program, the F-18 Program, was possibly the most successful acquisition program in our lifetimes. Hands down. It has been the exemplar of evolutionary development through life of all three platforms. From the Legacy Hornet to the Super Hornet you see before you and to the EA-18G Growler - controlled technical risk, disciplined requirements, exquisite program management. All of this has provided for what simply has been the backbone and mainstay of Naval Aviation for the past four decades. On cost, on schedule, on performance. These were not just words or goals for this program, they were a reality of this program." 

He described the success of the Hornet, Super Hornet and Growler as being the right jets at the right time when Naval Airpower needed capable and reliable aircraft as technology was making great leaps. These aircraft will continue to serve the needs of the fleet for decades to come. 

The Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation provided a STEM exhibit area near the Super Hornet display, drawing a steady stream of families attending the dedication event. Prior to the ceremony, the Foundation's Bell TH-67 Creek helicopter landed near the Orthwein Education and Visitor Center. Once the helicopter was safely secured, the Foundation members set up the F-4 Phantom Mobile Cockpit Exhibit and the pedal plane airport play area. The F-4 Phantom represents the previous generation of McDonnell Douglas fighter jets, with over 5,000 being produced in St. Louis. The visiting public was invited to explore the displays and visit the Foundation at their Creve Coeur Airport location.

(Jill Rempala photo)

(Jill Rempala photo)

The Aero Experience thanks the National Museum of Transportation, Boeing and the sponsors and volunteers who made the Super Horet E1 dedication possible. We encourage everyone to see the new display and visit the rest of the sprawling museum grounds regularly.