To contextualize the achievement, 12 million flight hours translates into almost 1,370 years, or 500,000 days, of non-stop flying.
The F/A-18 Hornet—the main fighter jet platform operated by both the US Navy and the Marine Corps—surpassed 12 million flight hours.
In August, the US Navy announced that its combined fleet of F/A-18 Hornets, F/A-18 Super Hornet, and EA-18G Growler fighter jets had hit the 12 million hour flight mark.
How the Hornet Got to 12 Million Hours
Achieving 12 million flight hours is a remarkable feat and a testament to the platform’s structural durability and endurance. But if any platform was likely to achieve the milestone, it was the F/A-18, which has served aboard US aircraft carriers in various configurations for decades.
“When you call the roar of these aircraft ‘the sound of freedom,’ it holds real weight,” Navy Capt. Michael Burks, program manager for the F/A-18 and EA-18G program office, said in a press statement.
To contextualize the achievement, 12 million flight hours translates into almost 1,370 years, or 500,000 days, of non-stop flying.
“Throughout their service, the F/A-18 and EA-18G family has supported nearly every major U.S. military conflict of the past 40 years and continues to adapt to rapidly changing threat environments,” Burks added. “From the initial deployment of the Hornet to the advanced capabilities of the Super Hornet and Growler, these aircraft have delivered forward presence, tactical airpower and critical electronic warfare capabilities around the globe.”
The F/A-18 Hornet and EA-18G Growler are some of the world’s most effective naval aircraft. The base model first entered service in the 1980s; several years later, Boeing introduced the more advanced F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. In 2004, Boeing further adapted the F/A-18 into the E/A-18G Growler, a specialized aircraft devoted to electronic warfare. The Growler is designed to target enemy radar installations and air defenses, paving the way for other aircraft to operate unhindered in hostile airspace.
The F/A-18’s Variants
| Plane | F/A-18 Hornet | F/A-18 Super Hornet | EA-18G Growler |
| Number Built | 1,479 | Approx. 630 | Approx. 170 |
| Length | 56 feet (16.8 meters) | 60.3 feet (18.5 meters) | 60.2 feet (18.5 meters) |
| Height | 15 feet 4 inches (4.6 meters) | 16 feet (4.87 meters) | 16 feet (4.87 meters) |
| Wingspan | 40 feet 5 inches (13.5 meters) | 44.9 feet (13.68 meters) | 44.9 feet (13.68 meters) |
| Weight | Maximum takeoff weight is 51,900 pounds | Maximum takeoff weight is 66,000 pounds (29,932 kg) | Weight empty: 33,094 lbs Recovery weight: 48,000 lbs |
| Engines | Two F404-GE-402 enhanced performance turbofan engines. 17,700 pounds static thrust per engine. | Two F414-GE-400 turbofan engines. 22,000 pounds (9,977 kg) static thrust per engine | Two F414-GE-400 turbofan engines. 22,000 pounds (9,977 kg) static thrust per engine |
| Top speed | Mach 1.7 (1,304 mph) | Mach 1.8+ (1,381 mph) | Mach 1.6 (1,227 mph) |
| Range | 1,089 nautical miles (1252.4 miles/2,003 km) in combat | 1,275 nautical miles (2,346 kilometers) in combat | 850+ nautical miles in combat |
| Service ceiling | 50,000+ feet | 50,000+ feet | 50,000 feet |
| Aircrew | A, C, E models: 1B, D, F models: 2 | A, C, E models: 1B, D, F models: 2 | 2 |
Sources: US Navy (1) (2) (3), Australian Air Force.
All of the Hornet’s variants are highly versatile and capable of both air-to-air combat and air-to-ground strikes.
“This milestone is a significant achievement and a reflection of the generations of Sailors, Marines and civilians who sustain, fly and innovate these platforms every day,” Burks concluded. “Twelve million flight hours demonstrates our commitment to delivering world-class capability, enabling our warfighters to execute their missions with an asymmetric advantage and return home safely.”
The Hornet Still Has Millions of Flight Hours to Go
The Navy and Marine Corps continue to invest money into the Hornet platforms. The Super Hornet Service Life Modification extended the expected service life of each F/A-18 Super Hornet from 6,000 to 10,000 flight hours. Moreover, Boeing is delivering the Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet and Growler Block II upgrades to the fleet, including advanced sensors and redesigned cockpits.
Still, the aircraft is slowly moving aside—intended to be displaced by the F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation multirole fighter jet. The Navy operates the “C” version of the stealth fighter jet, which can take off and land on aircraft carriers, while the Marine Corps flies the “B” and “C” versions. As a multirole aircraft, the F-35 can conduct both air-to-air, air-to-ground, and electronic warfare missions.
Nevertheless, the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ F/A-18 and EA-18G will have many more flying hours in them before they are retired in favor of more modern platforms.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
