Hornets ready to make history

Formation of Australian F\A-18F Hornets.

HISTORY will be made over Ipswich skies on Friday when the first of RAAF Base Amberley’s new squadron of F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jets flies over the city.

The five jets will be escorted by the base’s soon to be retired F-111 aircraft and are expected to fly over the city on their way to Amberley between 1.15pm to 1.30pm.

Ipswich residents are being encouraged by the Defence Force to look skywards at that time to watch the jets make their official entry into Ipswich.

Once the jets have completed their fly-over display over Ipswich, they will land at their new RAAF Base Amberley home for a formal ceremony.

The F/A-18F Super Hornets departed Naval Air Station Lemoore in California after RAAF pilots carried out extensive preparation work, including test flights and ground tests.

The Super Hornets arrived at Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday as they enter the final stages of their trip.

While the planes have been refuelling in the air, the jets have made stops in Hawaii and New Zealand because of the long journey.

The Super Hornets and their F-111 escorts will fly over the Gold Coast and Brisbane before taking to the Ipswich skies.

Defence Minister John Faulkner will formally welcome the new aircraft to Australia at a ceremony at RAAF Base Amberley with air force officials and community leaders.

“The Super Hornets represent a major step forward in air combat capability for Australia,” he said. “Air Force is acquiring 24 multi-role Super Hornets which will provide a bridging capability during the transition to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.”