A Navy F/A-18 Hornet from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. will land at The Museum of Flight on Friday afternoon, March 6, for a weekend static display. The Hornet's exciting departure is expected to occur during regular Museum hours on Sunday afternoon, March 8.Museum visitors will be able to see the supersonic jet upclose in the Museum's east parking lot adjacent the Boeing Field runway. The F/A-18 is the same type of plane flown by the Navy's flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, which will be at the Museum in July for SeaFair.
The F-18 is a part of Strike Fighter Squadron 94 (VFA-94) "Mighty Shrikes," a squadron which can trace its roots back to 1952 when Fighter Squadron 94 was commissioned at NAS Alameda, Calif. Nicknamed the Mighty Shrikes,the squadron began flying the F4-U Corsair (also on display in the Museum) but quickly transitioned to jet aircraft.
The Fighter Squadron has been deployed on the Aircraft Carriers USS Kitty Hawk, Enterprise, and Abraham Lincoln, and supported peacekeeping operations in Iraq. While on the USS Abraham Lincoln, the Mighty Shrikes also participated in Operation Fiery Vigil, evacuating thousands of homeless people from the Philippines after the Mount Pinatubo eruption. They subsequently received the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation for their contribution to Philippine disaster relief efforts. The squadron has been awarded two Joint Meritorious Unit Awards, three Navy Unit Commendations, five Meritorious Unit Commendations, five Battle Efficiency Awards, two Navy Expeditionary Medals, and three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals.
This Museum event is subject to last-minute scheduling changes and weather delays.
