THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN Air Force (RAAF)’s Air Combat Group brought together all four of its anniversary-schemed F/A-18A ‘classic’ Hornets at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, on April 27. The specially painted jets were arranged on the ight line for a photo shoot. All four units within the Air Combat Group’s 81 Wing have operated the ‘classic’ Hornet No 2 Operational Conversion Unit and Nos 3, 75 and 77 Squadrons and they each painted jets to celebrate their 75th or 100th anniversaries.
No 3 Squadron marked its centenary in 2016, while No 2 OCU and No 77 Squadron, both based at RAAFB Williamtown, plus No 75 Squadron, which is located at RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory, marked their 75th anniversaries in 2017.
No 3 Squadron operated its last ight with the ‘classic’ Hornet in December 2017 and is now stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona where it is becoming the rst RAAF unit to transition to the F-35A, 72 of which are on order to eventually replace the RAAF’s entire F/A-18A/B eet.
FINLAND’S HX PROGRAM MAKES PROGRESS
THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT has issued a request for quotation (RfQ) to four nations in order tond potential bidders for the Finnish Air Force’s HX ghter program to replace its F/A-18C/D Hornets.
