Fleet Readiness Center Southwest, located on Naval Air Station North Island, bids farewell to its last legacy aircraft — an F/A-18 Hornet.
Introduced in the 1980s, the Hornet has served in major conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm and the Kosovo War.
The Hornet’s operational life was extended far beyond its original limit of 6,000 flight hours.
“The aircraft is old so parts were hard to source, and structural repairs were challenging, but our team’s skills and knowledge ensured these aircraft kept flying,” said Ehren Terbeek, the tactical air program manager.
The departure of the second-to-last Hornet to Fort Worth, Texas and now the final Hornet returning to Miramar, marks a bittersweet moment for those who spent their careers ensuring these aircraft remained battle-ready.
“It was bittersweet knowing we were saying goodbye to an aircraft that defined our work for decades,” Terbeek reflected.
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest transitions to newer aircraft models like the F-35 and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, like the MQ-8.
