F/A-18 Classic Hornet

Kim Wood, Large Technology Conservator, Australian War Memorial, shares his personal story and connection to the FA-18 Classic Hornet and details its role in the Royal Australian Air Force.

F/A‐18A/B ‘Classic’ Hornets are multi‐role fighter aircraft. Seventy five F/A-18s were acquired by the RAAF from 1985 to replace the ageing Mirage III fighter which had been in service since 1963. The first two aircraft were produced in the US, with the remainder assembled in Australia at Government Aircraft Factories .

In 2003 14 Hornets flew Airborne Tanker protection patrols over Iraq, as well as Close Air Support (CAS) sorties to assist ground forces.  In 2015 six Hornets were deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Okra.

Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18A Hornet (A21-022), now a part of The Memorial's collection, was deployed to Operation Falconer in 2003 where it took part in 20 combat missions, including four operations in which ordnance was delivered. During Operation Okra in 2016–17 it flew more than 50 combat missions against ISIL targets in Iraq and Syria.

It was retired on 9 June 2020 after more than 30 years in service, with 6,131.5 flying hours.