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Image Gallery: July 2010

07 July 2010
The next 'tranche' of Super Hornets

The arrival of these aircraft brings the Australian fleet to eleven, with the first five Super Hornets being welcomed to Australia on March 26 this year.

The Super Hornets, affectionately referred to as ‘Rhinos’, make a tremendous addition to the Royal Australian Air Force’s fleet of air combat aircraft. The Super Hornet brings an enhanced air combat capability to Air Force that will allow Australia to maintain its regional air combat superiority, effectively contribute to regional security and enhance interoperability with coalition partners.

Australia’s Super Hornets will ensure there is no air combat capability gap during the transition to the Joint Strike Fighter force and maintain our regional air superiority throughout the withdraw of the F-111 and classic Hornet fleets.

The total Super Hornet programme investment is approximately $6 billion over the next decade, which includes acquisition and all support costs as well as personnel.

Number 1 Squadron are working together with the Australian Super Hornet project team, the Air Combat Transition Office and Air Combat Group to achieve Initial Operating Capability at the end of the year. This will result in an operational air combat squadron of aircraft with associated trained personnel, weapons and logistics support. By the end of 2012, the Super Hornet capability will be mature with 24 aircraft being operated in Australia.

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Two F/A-18F Super Hornets fly over RAAF Amberley.

(Date taken: 06 July 2010)
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An F/A-18F Super Hornet, A44-210, taxis for the first time on the runway at RAAF Base Amberley.

(Date taken: 06 July 2010)
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The old and the new. An F/A-18F Super Hornet, A44-210, taxi's past some F111's at RAAF base Amberley.

(Date taken: 06 July 2010)
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An F/A-18F Super Hornet from the second 'tranche' soon after arriving at RAAF Base Amberley.

(Date taken: 06 July 2010)
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An F/A-18F Super Hornet from the second 'tranche' soon after touching down at RAAF Base Amberley.

(Date taken: 06 July 2010)
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The first F/A-18F Super Hornet from the second 'tranche' taxis at RAAF Base Amberley.

(Date taken: 06 July 2010)
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An F/A-18F Super Hornet from the second 'tranche' taxis at RAAF Base Amberley.

(Date taken: 06 July 2010)
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The next stage in Air Force’s air combat capability evolution occurred when another six Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets touched down at RAAF Base Amberley following a four-day journey from Naval Air Station Lemoore in the United States.

(Date taken: 06 July 2010)
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