NAVAIR's F/A-18 Program Celebrates 25 Years of Flight

(EXCERPT) Story Number: NNS031125-01 Release Date: 11/25/2003 6:42:00
PM

From Naval Air Systems Command Public Affairs

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
F/A-18 program commemorated the first flight of the Hornet aircraft
flown 25 years ago Nov. 20. Alumni members of the "Hornets Nest"
gathered at NAVAIR Patuxent River for a day of memories and
celebration.

“The last 25 years of flight by F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets have
established an unmatched record of performance, survivability,
reliability, maintainability and affordability for the U.S. Navy,
Marine Corps, and our foreign partners,” said NAVAIR F/A-18 Program
Manager Capt. B.D. Gaddis. “The men and women who have designed,
developed, produced, enhanced, maintained and flown these remarkable
aircraft can be very proud. They have set the chinning bar pretty
high. But I'm convinced that the next 25 years will be even better."

Naval Aviation was forever changed 25 years ago when Jack Krings, test
pilot for then-McDonnell Douglas Corporation, had the honor of taking
the new fighter on a 50-minute flight from St. Louis o...

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---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com