F-18 Super Hornet

ABOUT THE SUPER HORNET

The Boeing F/A-18E and F/A-18F Super Hornet are twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter aircraft variants based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18E single-seat and F/A-18F tandem-seat variants are larger and more advanced derivatives of the F/A-18C and D Hornet.

The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm M61 rotary cannon and can carry air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface weapons. Additional fuel can be carried in up to five external fuel tanks and the aircraft can be configured as an airborne tanker by adding an external air-to-air refueling system.

Designed and initially produced by McDonnell Douglas, the Super Hornet first flew in 1995. Low-rate production began in early 1997 with full-rate production starting in September 1997, after the merger of McDonnell Douglas and Boeing the previous month. The Super Hornet entered fleet service with the United States Navy in 1999, replacing the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, which was retired in 2006; the Super Hornet has served alongside the original Hornet.

ABOUT VFA-106

The Gladiators of Strike Fighter Squadron 106 is the Navy’s East Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron; the squadron’ mission is to train Navy F/A-18E & F/A-18F Super Hornet replacement Pilots and Weapon Systems Officers (WSOs) to support fleet commitments. Every six weeks, a class of between 8–12 newly winged Navy pilots and Naval Flight Officers begins the 9-month training course in which they learn the basics of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, culminating in day/night carrier qualification and subsequent assignment to fleet Super Hornet squadrons.

The Gladiators are also well known for the airshow TACDEMO Team. The team flies the F/A-18F to show sites in the Eastern United States. Instructors of the squadron fly the aircraft, and serve on a one year schedule. The team demonstrates maneuvers used in training and combat flights. Typically two F/A-18s are sent to the show site, one being the demonstration aircraft and the other being a spare in case the demo jet suffered a mechanical problem.

Performers

ExtremeFlight

ExtremeFlight

Patrick McAlee, pronounced "Mack-a-Lee," is a seasoned aviator, airshow performer, and aviation enthusiast, hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, and currently residing in Chicago, Illinois. His love for flying was deeply influenced by his father and uncle, both...

Scott Francis

Scott Francis

Scott Francis, originally from Wichita, KS and now residing in Montclair, VA, just outside of Washington DC, has been a licensed pilot for more than 38 years. The son of an experimental test pilot and the grandson of an airline pilot, Scott grew up around aviation and...

177th Fighter Wing | New Jersey Air National Guard

177th Fighter Wing | New Jersey Air National Guard

The 177th Fighter Wing is a New Jersey Air National Guard fighter unit responsible for protecting America’s skies and responding to foreign threats. Known as the “Jersey Devils” the unit has served a number of missions both home and abroad, to include: air...

Super Chipmunk

Super Chipmunk

Mark is a retired Navy Captain who didn’t learn to fly as a pilot until he was age 47.  He began his career at the US Naval Academy then progressed to flying as a Bombardier/Navigator in the A-6E Intruder attack jet aboard aircraft carriers.  Mark later transitioned...

GO EZ Aerobatics

GO EZ Aerobatics

Kyle has made the jump to full time airshow performer after shifting away from his other passion as a journeyman automotive mechanic. Although Kyle still does some corporate flying, becoming the best airshow performer that he can be is the ultimate goal. Unconditional...

B-25 N 3155G

B-25 N 3155G

B-25 Take Off Time is being flown by Tom Duffy and Ryan Parenti. Tom is the founder of the Philadelphia based Law Firm Duffy + Fulginiti. The firm represents plaintiffs who have sustained severe catastrophic injuries. Tom has received multi-million dollar record...

U. S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier

U. S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier

The AV-8B V/STOL strike aircraft was designed to replace the AV-8A and the A-4M light attack aircraft. The Marine Corps requirement for a V/STOL light attack force has been well documented since the late 1950's. Combining tactical mobility, responsiveness, reduced...

Chris Thomas Airshows

Chris Thomas Airshows

The Pilot Chris Thomas is a third-generation pilot and earned his pilot’s license at the age of 17 with his father as his flight instructor.  He has logged over 20,000 hours of flight time in more than 105 types of aircraft. When not flying airshows,Chris is a Captain...

Full Throttle Formation Team

Full Throttle Formation Team

The Full Throttle Formation Team from Atlanta Georgia and are the largest precision formation airshow team in America. Their pilots are all aviation professionals with more than 300,000 total hours of flight experience in military and commercial aircraft. They fly...

Dougherty Airshows

Dougherty Airshows

Paul Dougherty has been flying airshows since 1998 and has logged over 23,000 hours in the sky. He offers unique acts in a 230 horsepower Christen Eagle or a 1930 Great Lakes! Spectators will be tapping their feet to modern day music while enjoying torque rolls, tail...