The historic first flight of Air Force’s Super Hornets into their home base, RAAF Amberley, will occur this Friday, 26 March 2010. 

Minister for Defence Senator John Faulkner will formally welcome the new aircraft to Australia during a ceremony at Amberley, along with RAAF members, Industry representatives and community leaders. 

The F/A-18F Super Hornets are the Air Force’s first new air combat aircraft in 25 years. 

Five Super Hornets have departed Naval Air Station Lemoore in California after extensive preparations, including acceptance flights and ground tests. While air to air refuelling is occurring, the long journey to Australia involves several stops, including Hawaii and New Zealand. 

Air Force is planning to mark the Super Hornet arrival with an escort of F-111s, as the new aircraft fly over Brisbane and Gold Coast on approach to Amberley. The F-111s which have been stalwarts of Australia’s air combat fleet will be retired at the end of 2010. 

“The Super Hornets represent a major step forward in air combat capability for Australia. 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,” Senator Faulkner said. 

“The Super Hornets are an important acquisition,” Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet said. 

“Air Force, Defence Materiel Organisation, United States Navy, The Boeing Company and their industry partners, General Electric, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon share the credit for this project’s success.” 

Australia’s Super Hornets will arrive at RAAF Amberley progressively during 2010 and 2011.

Source: RAAF